A
Anonymous
Guest
Kansas Department of Agriculture [11 Feb 2005]
Polansky testifies in support of state animal ID bill
Polansky testifies in support of state animal ID bill
TOPEKA – Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky on
Monday testified before the House Agriculture Committee in support
of House Bill 2053 that will extend beyond May 2005 authorization
granted last year to the Kansas Animal Health Department to implement
a voluntary premises registration and animal tracking system.
"The Animal Health Department has been working on a premises
registration pilot project using grant money provided by USDA,"
Polansky said. "Extending the authorization beyond May will allow
them to proceed with their project under the National Animal Identification
System."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture last year announced the framework
for implementing the National Animal Identification System in all states
under national standards. When fully operational, animal health officials
will be able to use the system to track animal movement, which will
be essential to responding to foreign animal disease.
"Since Kansas ranks second in the nation in cattle on farms and on
feed, and third in the nation in red meat production, it's appropriate
that Kansas be among the states that helps shape and implement
the National Animal Identification System," Polansky said.
Polansky said he and Governor Kathleen Sebelius have been
working with a group of stakeholders representing producers, feeders,
packers, associations, academics and government to resolve issues
faced by the beef industry. The group identified removal of the sunset
clause for Kansas' premises identification program as essential for
the benefit of the beef industry and the success of the National
Animal Identification System.
Although the primary function of the National Animal Identification
System is to enable quick response to foreign animal disease, Polansky
said, USDA does not prevent producers from using it to collect data
on the quality of beef they produce and to increase their marketing
options.
"The system could have other useful applications," Polansky said,
"but we need to get it off the ground first. Removing the end date
from the enabling legislation is necessary."
One practical application Polansky sees for the system is to use it
to meet certain consumer preferences. About time as the consumers need it to tell if the beef is US.or not.
Polansky traveled to Japan last September with Gov. Sebelius to
meet with retailers and trade officials to find out what Kansas could
do to expedite resumed beef exports to that nation. Japan banned
beef imports from the United States after a Washington state cow
was diagnosed with bovine spongiform encephalopathy in December
2003.
"Traceability is extremely important to Japanese consumers," Polansky
said. "A comprehensive animal identification system could be very
useful to providing the level of traceability they prefer."
Polansky testifies in support of state animal ID bill
Polansky testifies in support of state animal ID bill
TOPEKA – Kansas Secretary of Agriculture Adrian Polansky on
Monday testified before the House Agriculture Committee in support
of House Bill 2053 that will extend beyond May 2005 authorization
granted last year to the Kansas Animal Health Department to implement
a voluntary premises registration and animal tracking system.
"The Animal Health Department has been working on a premises
registration pilot project using grant money provided by USDA,"
Polansky said. "Extending the authorization beyond May will allow
them to proceed with their project under the National Animal Identification
System."
The U.S. Department of Agriculture last year announced the framework
for implementing the National Animal Identification System in all states
under national standards. When fully operational, animal health officials
will be able to use the system to track animal movement, which will
be essential to responding to foreign animal disease.
"Since Kansas ranks second in the nation in cattle on farms and on
feed, and third in the nation in red meat production, it's appropriate
that Kansas be among the states that helps shape and implement
the National Animal Identification System," Polansky said.
Polansky said he and Governor Kathleen Sebelius have been
working with a group of stakeholders representing producers, feeders,
packers, associations, academics and government to resolve issues
faced by the beef industry. The group identified removal of the sunset
clause for Kansas' premises identification program as essential for
the benefit of the beef industry and the success of the National
Animal Identification System.
Although the primary function of the National Animal Identification
System is to enable quick response to foreign animal disease, Polansky
said, USDA does not prevent producers from using it to collect data
on the quality of beef they produce and to increase their marketing
options.
"The system could have other useful applications," Polansky said,
"but we need to get it off the ground first. Removing the end date
from the enabling legislation is necessary."
One practical application Polansky sees for the system is to use it
to meet certain consumer preferences. About time as the consumers need it to tell if the beef is US.or not.
Polansky traveled to Japan last September with Gov. Sebelius to
meet with retailers and trade officials to find out what Kansas could
do to expedite resumed beef exports to that nation. Japan banned
beef imports from the United States after a Washington state cow
was diagnosed with bovine spongiform encephalopathy in December
2003.
"Traceability is extremely important to Japanese consumers," Polansky
said. "A comprehensive animal identification system could be very
useful to providing the level of traceability they prefer."
