NAIS Is Coming: National ID System for Farm Animals

As part of its ongoing efforts to safeguard U.S. animal health, the United States Department of Agriculture initiated the implementation of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) in 2004. NAIS is a cooperative State-Federal-industry partnership to standardize and expand animal identification programs and practices to all livestock species and poultry. NAIS is currently a voluntary program.

Read more about the program at the USDA website.

NAIS is being developed through the integration of three components—premises identification, animal identification, and animal tracking. The long-term goal of the NAIS is to provide animal health officials with the capability to identify all livestock and premises that have had direct contact with a disease of concern within 48 hours after discovery.

Other points of interest:

• NAIS Implementation Plan: Goals include 100 percent of premises registration by January 2009 (as well as 100 percent registration of new animals identified); (View PDF of plan)
• News release: USDA Releases Guidelines for the manufacture and distribution of official identification devices under NAIS (View PDF)
• News release: USDA to Award up to $14.3 Million to States and Tribes for National Animal ID Systems Premises Registration (View release)