Animal Disease Traceability Becomes Law

January 23, 2013 — 

The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture has published the final rule regulating the traceability standards for livestock moving interstate. Swine veterinarians and producers have long supported efforts to enhance the ability of state and federal animal health officials to identify premises housing livestock and trace animal movements. These objectives are part of routine production in the swine industry and are integral to efficient disease surveillance and control.

The current rule was initially proposed and opened for public comment in August 2011 following years of discussion and failed proposals. The new rules require that, unless specifically exempt, all livestock covered under the rule moving interstate would have to be identified and accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection (ICVI). These regulations will not have a dramatic effect on swine producers since we have been required to identify animals in interstate transit since the late 1980s as part of the Pseudorabies eradication program.

The swine industry was already largely compliant with the goals of the traceability effort and, as a result, the rule refers swine producers to existing federal regulations (9cfr 71.19 and Pseudorabies regulations in part 85) for guidance on the specifics of swine traceability. The U.S. pork industry developed the Swine ID Plan to outline swine-specific animal identification and traceability standards. The basis of the Swine ID Plan is the Premises Identification Number or PIN. A producer must have a PIN to participate in the Pork Quality Assurance Plus program which is required by most pork processors. As a result, the vast majority of swine producers have registered their premises. This PIN identifier should be included on all official forms including certificates of veterinary inspection and submissions to veterinary diagnostic labs as well as market shipments.

One of the key impacts on veterinarians involves the issuance of Interstate Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (ICVI). While the basic requirements did not change much, veterinarians should be aware of what constitutes “official” identification and that animals moving interstate (unless exempt) must be accompanied by either an ICVI or other movement documentation as agreed to by both the shipping and receiving state animal health officials.

The veterinarian issuing an ICVI or other document required for the interstate movement of animals must forward a copy of the ICVI or other document to the State or Tribal animal health official of the State or Tribe of origin within 7 calendar days from the date on which the ICVI or other document is issued. The State or Tribal animal health official in the State or Tribe of origin must forward a copy of the ICVI or other document to the State or Tribal animal health official the State or Tribe of destination within 7 calendar days from date on which the ICVI or other document is received.

The animal health official or accredited veterinarian issuing or receiving an ICVI or other interstate movement document must keep a copy of the ICVI or alternate documentation. For poultry and swine, such documents must be kept for at least 2 years, and for cattle and bison, sheep and goats, cervids, and equines, 5 years.

The final rule in its entirety can be found under the Advocacy tab at AASV.org.