"After concluding our listening tour on the National Animal Identification System in 15 cities across the country, receiving thousands of comments from the public and input from states, tribal nations, industry groups and representatives for small and organic farmers, it is apparent that a new strategy for animal disease traceability is needed," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

"I've decided to revise the prior policy and offer a new approach to animal disease traceability with changes that respond directly to the feedback we heard."

The framework, announced at the National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) mid-year meeting, provides the basic tenets of an improved animal disease traceability capability in the US.

The USDA said its efforts will:

• Only apply to animals moved in interstate commerce;
• Be administered by the states and tribal nations to provide more flexibility;
• Encourage the use of lower-cost technology, and
• Be implemented transparently through federal regulations and the full rulemaking process.

One of USDA's first steps will be to convene a forum with animal health leaders for the states and tribal nations to initiate a dialogue about the possible ways of achieving a flexible, coordinated approach to animal disease traceability.

Additionally, USDA will be revamping the Secretary's Advisory Committee on Animal Health to address specific issues, such as confidentiality and liability.

* More information on USDA's new direction on animal traceability and the steps to improve disease prevention and control is available here at the USDA website.