[RC] FACTS: Premise Registration - National Animal Identification System (NAIS) - #1 - Dana
OK - I searched the
archives to the best of my ability (limited), and I've seen only a couple
comments on this subject.... So.... I want to offer a
comprehensive exploration of the basic facts on the issue of the
National Animal Identification System.
Because it is so detailed, I will put it into 4 pieces/emails/posts,
this being the first one.
If this is boring, lame, repetitive or uninteresting to you in any way,
please hit delete now and delete the next 3 associated emails too. I do not mean
to "force the issue" on a fairly light-hearted group of people such as
yourselves (and me!), but this is of the UTMOST IMPORTANCE to our lives, and I
want to make sure that those who have need/want to be informed are.
I am in Texas, so some
(not all) of the following information is in re: to Texas, BUT the same info is
pertinent to ALL 50 states... This IS a Nationally implemented System... so just
take out Texas and insert the name of your state... MANY states are
already invested MUCH deeper than Texas.
This is long, but if are
you ANYTHING besides a mindless SHEEP coasting through life in a
perpetual sleepy state of being, you MUST READ THIS.
Please take notice of
what is about to become of your life as you know it. IF this happens, you will
never again posses the freedom that you have at this very minute.
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT
ISSUE OF OUR TIME.
"This will be the first time in U.S. history it will be
illegal to be a farmer unless you have government
permission".
PLEASE take the time to
read this and act accordingly.
Dana in Texas
Here's the
FACTS:
Basics of the National Animal Identification System
(NAIS).
The goal of the NAIS is to enable animal health officials to
identify locations where infected or exposed animals have been and to track
animal movement from those locations within 48 hours, in the event of an animal
disease outbreak. Three main components comprise the system:
Premises identification defines a geographic site, such as
ranches, farms, feedlots, livestock markets, slaughter establishments, rendering
or carcass collection points, veterinary clinics, livestock show, fair or
exhibition sites, quarantine facilities, laboratories, ports of entry, or any
other facilities where animals are handled. These include cattle, horses, mules,
asses, sheep, goats and hogs; exotic livestock; domestic fowl, such as chickens,
turkeys, and game birds; and poultry and exotic fowl.
The premises number is a unique 7-character code, issued by the
TAHC or USDA. Owners or managers can register their premises and obtain the
unique code online at the TAHC web site at http://www.tahc.state.tx.us.
Applications also may be obtained at many cooperative extension
service offices, livestock markets, veterinary clinics or from livestock and
poultry associations. As of early December, more than 4,200 premises in Texas
had been registered. In the U.S. (including Texas), about 160,000 have been
registered.
A person who owns or manages two or more locations and
commingles animals may register the locations under one premises number.
However, if a person maintains livestock on multiple locations but does not
commingle the animals, then each location should be registered separately.
Animal identification, when implemented, will require that
certain species of animals are tagged with a uniquely numbered 15-digit
electronic identification device when they are moved from their herd of origin,
or are commingled with animals from other premises. The device is intended to
remain with the animal for life. If a device is lost, the animal can be
retagged.
Under the national animal identification system (NAIS), still
in development, premises numbers will NOT be imprinted on the animal
identification devices. The unique 7-character premises identification and the
15-digit animal identification device number will correlate only in records.
Each animal identification device will be individually
numbered.
In the NAIS, some species, such as commercially produced swine
or poultry, may be identified by group/lot numbers, provided the animals are
held and managed as a group throughout the pre-harvest production process.
Animal tracking, the final component of the national plan, will
involve recording and reporting those animals moved, sold, commingled or
slaughtered. This component, when implemented, will enable efficient tracing of
animals for disease eradication efforts.
Additional NAIS information and links can be found on the TAHC
web site at:
Prior to July 1, 2006, premises in Texas may be registered at
no charge, and the premises identification number will remain valid through June
30, 2008.
Although the 7-character premises identification number will
not change, the premises registration must be renewed July 1, 2008, and every 24
months thereafter. At renewal, the proposed regulations provide for a yearly
premises registration fee of $10, paid biennially. The $20 two-year registration
fee is to be submitted to the TAHC at the time of registration renewal.
On July 1, 2006, premises registration will be compulsory in
Texas. All persons who own, manage or are caretakers for locations where
livestock, exotic livestock, poultry, or exotic poultry are handled must
register their premises with the TAHC and submit the $20 two-year fee. Renewal
and fee payment will be required every 24 months thereafter.
Privacy considerations under the proposed TAHC
regulations.
Information collected by the TAHC for premises or animal
identification is exempt from public disclosure requirements under the Texas
Public Information Act.
Compliance and the proposed regulations.
Although the TAHC commissioners always urge voluntary
compliance with agency regulations, the proposals include penalties for
noncompliance.
The Texas Agriculture Code (law) may be found on the TAHC
website at http://www.tahc.state.tx.us , by selecting the "Statutes and Regulations"
In Texas.....
1. The Texas Legislature did pass a bill (HB 1361) in a recent
session authorizing the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) to "develop and
implement an animal identification system consistent with the U.S. Department of
Agriculture's National Animal Identification System (NAIS)."
2. Thus far, the TAHC has only developed PROPOSED regulations
for PREMISES IDENTIFICATION ONLY. The proposed regulations were approved at a
TAHC commissioners' meeting on December 6, 2005.
3. Public comment (written) regarding those PROPOSED
regulations ended on February 6, 2006.
4. There is a public meeting regarding the proposed regulations
in Austin on Thursday, February 16, 2006.
5. Remember...Regulations are not law. Laws are passed by the
Legislature. Regulations are written by bureaucrats at state agencies.
Regulations must be consistent with the law.
6. HB 1361 (the law) also says that "The program is voluntary
until the federal government requires a mandatory animal ID program, at which
time the state program and fee would become mandatory."
7. The Congress is expected to vote on the federal NAIS law "in
the summer of 2006."
*** Here
is a brief synopsis of what happened at the February 16th meeting in the Texas
Capitol of Austin (contains the writer's opinions too):
> Well, someone
heard us!!!! The Tx Animal Health Commission has postponed their
ruling so they can study this some more! Their next meeting is
tentatively May 4th, 2006. Please be there! Meanwhile, you can pick up
your phone, sit down at your computer, write and call your state reps
and congress people and the TAHC and tell them how you feel about
this! Write a letter to your editor of your local paper, tell all of
your friends and family. Sign all the petitions! Get the word out! Get
involved! Your freedom and rights are at stake!! > >
_www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=155777_ >
(http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp? ArID=155777) > > Here's what all this
means to YOU!! > > The 358th Texas Animal Health Commission
meeting Thursday Feb. 16, 2006
First I would
like to say that HB1361 went under our radar and was passed already.
What does this mean to you and I if you live in Texas? > > 1.
You and anyone that owns a horse, cow, pig, sheep, goat, chicken,
llama, captive game bird, exotic livestock, captive cervidae, ratite
or "other" is required to register your premises. It's free until July
1, 2006 (Isn't that comforting.) The government wants to know who you
are and what you own! That's just the first step into the invasion of
your privacy.....it gets worse. > > 2. If you do not
comply by Jan. 1, 2007 you become a criminal!! And here's the
penalty: > > A) Under section 161.148 and entitled
"Administrative Penalty" the > Commission may impose an
administrative penalty against a person who violates a rule or order
adopted by the Commission. The penalty for violation may be in an
amount not to exceed $1000. "Each day" a violation continues or occurs
is a separate violation for purposes of imposing a penalty. The amount
of > penalty shall not be based on a per head basis and the Commission
must base the amount of the penalty by evaluating six factors as
provided by Section 161.148. After which the executive director would
issue to the commission a report that states the facts on which the
determination is based and the director's recommendation on the
imposition of a penalty, including a recommendation on the amount of
the penalty. > > I want to let that part sink in for
everyone reading this before I go on with the rest of the meeting
content. I hope everyone noticed that you will never be able to own a
small farm or even one chicken or horse in the state of Texas without
having to pay and let the government know about it. You no longer have that
right or freedom! Notice that the fine can multiply "each day" that you
don't comply and the amount of your penalty will be recommended by the
Executive director of the TAHC who is none other than Bob Hillman, >
DVM.......that's right....... a veterinarian! How do you like America >
now?!! > > What can we do now? HB1361 needs to be REPEALED!! We can
do this, I know we can!! Texas State Rep. Bryan Hughes of District 5
which includes Camp, Harrison, Upshur and Wood Counties sent word to
the meeting that he would have voted "NO" to HB1361 if he had known
the full content and conseqences to the small farmer/livestock owner.
He needs to be commended for having the guts to admit that and now we
know at least one state rep. in our corner! Write to him! Write
to all of your reps. and congress people!! Don't let up! We as
American's don't deserve our freedoms being ripped away from us!!
It's> happening right now!! PLEASE fight back!! >
> Here is the website to find out who represents YOU!!! Pass it on
to your> friends and family! Sign every petition you can! E-mail,
write and call> too!! > > _http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/_
(http://www.capitol.state.tx.us/) > > Secondly, Keep in mind that according to Nancy
Foster one of the speakers from Austin who attended the meeting that approx.
52 million dollars went to big Ag related businesses to get them behind this
insane law! She called it "polite fear mongering". > >
Here are a few of the associations.. Keep in mind that I am a member
of Farm Bureau and I was not asked to vote. They did not speak for me! AND
they have lost my business after 20 years over this very important
issue! I spoke with members of some of the cattleman's associations and they
too are upset that their assoc. is supporting this! They had no idea what
was happening > either! > > Texas Farm Bureau =
supports > Southwest Texas Cattle Raiser's Assoc. = supports >
Tx. Independent Cattleman's Assoc. = supports > Tx Cattle Feeders
Assoc. = supports > Tx Assoc. of Dairy Industry = supports >
Tx. Livestock Marketing = supports > James Grimm, Exec. VP of
Poultry Federation = supports > > Follow the money trail!!
Big money going where? > > AQHA = Requested a delay in ruling
until further studies can be done. > Texas Ag Commissioner -
Susan Combs = Against > Texas Thoroughbred Assoc. - Against >
Paso Fino Horse Assoc. - Against > Bluebonnet Equine Humane Society
of Texas - Against > Havard Horse Auction Sales - Lufkin, Tx. =
Against > Mayor Ed Smith of Marshall, Tx. = Against > Caroline
Lawson - Dist. director of the Amer. Dairy Goat Assoc. =
Against > Staton Weldon, pres. of R-Calf U.S.A. =
Against > Randy Givens Prof. of College Government - Blinn College =
Against > James Mabrey, China Springs, Tx.- cattle rancher =
Against > Lisa Weir - Tx. Consumer = Against > Tammy Kocerek,
member Amer. Dairy Goat Assoc. = Against > Chuck Miller - Austin -
recreational horse owner = Against > Don McCloud, DVM =
Against > Angela Gunter - small cattle rancher = Against >
Oscar Delph - Guadalupe Co cattle raiser = Against > Melanie
McKelvey - Organic Food Restaurant owner = Against > Bill McRainey -
Bastrop Co. = Against > Candace Costas - owner of Arabians and
Morgan horses = Against > Miriam Roth - horse owner =
Against > Barbara Samuelson - Williamson Co. = Against > Mr.
Robert Gassett - 30 yrs. Ret. Air Force = Against > Texas Organic
Farmers and Gardners Asooc = Against > > There were many more
that spoke their 3 minutes but I did not write down all their names or
their associations. We need more people to fight this! As you can see
it's the small ranchers, farmers and horse owners and our personal
freedoms and rights that will suffer! > > Ask yourselves:
Whose business is it where you take your horse when you pull out of
your driveway? Whose business is it if you own a laying hen? Like one
gentleman said at the meeting: "This will be the first time in
U.S. history it will be illegal to be a farmer unless you have
government permission". > > The GPS chips you
will be required to have implanted in your horses in the > next
phase of the USDA's proposed National ID system will track your every
move with your horse! Every move! Every roping! Every barrel race!
Every 4H show! Every cutting! This , as one lady stated at the
meeting, "amounts to nothing more than warrantless
surveilance"!! > > Please! Get involved! > >
> Happy Trails! > Redhorse >
