New policy on national animal ID system approved

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The AVMA Executive Board approved replacing its current policy on the U.S. Animal Identification Plan with a new policy called the National Animal Identification System. The Council on Public Health and Regulatory Veterinary Medicine and the Food Safety Advisory Committee recommended the following policy.

National Animal Identification System

The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) supports an effective National Animal Identification System (NAIS) that contains the following key elements:

  1. The database(s) are accessible 24 hours a day and 7 days a week by animal health officials.
  2. System cost does not detract from effective implementation.
  3. A system that is workable for producers of all sizes.
  4. Implementation that engages all stakeholders in providing input through the NAIS Subcommittee of the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Foreign Animal and Poultry Diseases and other designated forums.
  5. Exception from freedom of information disclosure laws for data collected in support of the NAIS.
  6. Implementation benchmarks and timelines are established in federal regulation to achieve the NAIS goals identified in the strategic plan.

After the creation of the 2003 AVMA policy, U.S. Animal Identification Plan, there were several changes to the national animal identification plan. In response to the changes, the council and committee developed the new NAIS policy.