Federal & State Petition to Stop Animal ID

Bills in Congress, the States, and USDA’s Actions

Congress is considering legislation (officially, HR 3170, and two companion bills HR 1256 and HR 1254) that will virtually destroy the small livestock farmers, and make recreational livestock activities a thing of the past. Small livestock producers, owners of backyard flocks, hobbyists and individuals raising show birds, horses, and other animals may soon be subjected to regulations under this proposed National Animal Identification System (NAIS). And, even though this legislation has not been passed, the US Department of Agriculture is implementing NAIS is so-called “pilot” programs. As if this wasn’t enough, many states are establishing their own universal animal identification programs designed after NAIS.

Animals covered by NAIS:

Cattle and Bison
Pigs
Sheep
Horses, mules, donkeys and other equines
Elk
Deer
Llamas
Alpacas
Goats
Poultry and waterfowl
Food fish

We must act now to stop the USDA’s NAIS and all legislation that establishes universal individual livestock and premises identification.

What NAIS Requires

Under the proposed legislation, you will be required to identify EVERY bird, horse, goat, sheep, pig or cow you own with either an expensive microchip like those injected under the skin of dogs (estimated cost $15-30 per chip), or (for birds) a 13- or 15-digit leg band. You will be required to register every animal with a central database that will include the animal’s identification number, plus a “property identification number” (essentially, your address). Banding/microchipping will commence at hatching for poultry.

There are no exceptions for small farms, 4H, or other livestock activities that aren’t a part of the large commercial livestock operations.

NAIS Is Window-Dressing

While well-meaning, the NAIS regulations are a misguided attempt to make the American public believe the government can control outbreaks of any and all animal diseases, ranging from BSE (“Mad Cow” disease) to Avian Influenza.

NAIS won’t work because:

It’s designed for tracking BSE in cattle, and doesn’t fit other animals
The database is impossible to design, build, or maintain, with 100’s of millions of annual reports
Tagging costs in poultry will be 8 times the cost of an individual bird
It won’t control disease, just build a bureaucracy
It will cost more than real disease control methods.

NAIS is Already Being Implemented

The government has already started assigning ID numbers to farms, members of NPIP, Scrapies program, etc. Ohio and other states are being used as “pilot” states. Citizens are not told NAIS is voluntary. Feed stores around the country are requiring citizens to give their names and addresses when they buy livestock feed.

NAIS is Illegal and Unconstitutional – the USDA is acting without Authority

TAKE ACTION NOW – SIGN THE PETITION!

WE small farmers and individual livestock breeders have no central organization. The only means we have of blocking this legislation, which will do nothing to protect the health and welfare of American citizens, is to contact our Senators and Representatives and register our opposition to such regulations.

Please take a moment to sign the attached petition. We must have your name, town, and zip code. Your mailing and e-mail addresses and phone numbers are optional. We will then send copies of the petition to all Senators and appropriate Representatives in Congress.

This effort is being undertaken by a small group of concerned poultry fanciers, horse owners, and other livestock owners in Texas, Indiana, Ohio, New York, and New Jersey not affiliated with the American Bantam Association, American Poultry Association, or any other club, group or commercial concern. For more information, please contact the administrator at www.stopanimalid.org or Karin Bergener at info@stopanimalid.org