The High-Tech Brand: How RFID and the National Animal Identification System will Lend Traceability and Intelligence to the Agricultural Supply Chain

摘要

This article examines the rationale behind and planning for the soon to be implemented National Animal Identification System (NAIS). The authors show that with the national scope and fast movement of animals and animal food products throughout America and the importance of export markets to American agriculture, it is essential for animal health officials to be able today to have "rapid trace-back" capability. Once the NAIS is fully implemented, all animals in select species will be identified ? largely through RFID (radio frequency identification) technology - and all facilities (or "premises") where such animals are located will be registered with the government. These records, housed in databases maintained by the USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) and state/tribal animal agencies, will allow animal health officials, via web-based inquiry systems, to isolate cases of "Mad Cow" and other foreign animal diseases (FADs) within 48 hours of their being reported. The article outlines the basics of how the NAIS will work and outlines the timeline for the system shifting from one of voluntary compliance to mandatory participation by 2009. It also examines the principal issues that have arisen to date about the NAIS, which center around the following four themes: 1. How will agribusiness interests obtain and use the technology? 2. Who will bear the costs of implementing the system? 3. How will the data be protected and the privacy of the information maintained? 4. What are the side or spin-off benefits to farmers, ranchers, animal marketers, and even abattoirs?