Secretary Schafer stands by voluntary NAIS
Tuesday, April 1, 2008, 2:22 PM
by Dave Russell
In an interview with U.S. Agriculture Secretary Ed Schafer following his remarks to the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) annual meeting on Tuesday, April 1, the Secretary told Brownfield that USDA remains committed to a voluntary National Animal ID System.
“I like to see public policy generated that encourages people to engage, that helps them recognize the benefits of being involved in an interactive relationship with government,” said Secretary Schafer. “I don’t like government telling people what to do.”
Secretary Schafer also said that progress was being made through the voluntary system.
“And of course we have to do it voluntarily or our friends on Capital Hill are going to step in and make it mandatory,” Schafer said.
Secretary Schafer also told Brownfield that in order to have an effective Country-of-Origin Labeling (COOL) program, animal ID is necessary.
“Having the desire to properly label means we ought to be able to track animals, and that’s a National Animal ID System,” said the Ag chief.