RFID Animal ID Surveillance ...

Hearings of the Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee - U.S. Senate

... "That task is even more daunting given the long incubation period of BSE, requiring the back tracing of the entire life of animals through multiple owners and locations. While I recognize and appreciate the many efforts of the USDA and the animal industries in developing and implementing a national animal ID system, the weakness is that such a system is a voluntary effort at this time. I believe the US now requires a mandatory national animal ID system. Technologies are already available and pilot projects, such as the National Farm Animal Identification and Records (FAIR) Project funded by Congress in the recent past, have demonstrated the utility of an ISO-certified radio frequency ID (RFID) system that is cost effective and reliable. Other ISO-certifiable technologies are also available." ...