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  • From: "Lynn Wigglesworth" <lynnw1366 AT hotmail.com>
  • To: <homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] Warning from an anti-NAIS activist
  • Date: Wed, 14 Jan 2009 11:40:07 -0500

This site http://www.change.org/ is fun. You can log in and vote (in the "ideas" section to the right on the top bar) on the top ten things you'd like to see done. Legalize raw milk is one, stop NAIS, bring Bush up on charges, repeal the Patriot Act, legalize pot (the #1 idea at the moment), and dozens more. Every round, they pick the top choices for the next round. Of course (wink wink) maybe they are just taking names of troublemakers (I'll be right up there on the top).

Lynn Wigglesworth

----- Original Message ----- From: "Lynn Wigglesworth" <lynnw1366 AT hotmail.com>
To: <homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 10:31 AM
Subject: Re: [Homestead] Warning from an anti-NAIS activist


If you want to send a message to Obama, vote here:
http://www.change.org/ideas/view/stop_nais

Lynn Wigglesworth

----- Original Message ----- From: "bobf" <bobford79 AT yahoo.com>
To: <homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org>
Sent: Wednesday, January 14, 2009 10:24 AM
Subject: [Homestead] Warning from an anti-NAIS activist


I don't know as much about this subject as Lynn and others, but I believe
it is more insidious governmental interference in individual liberty and
also a way for competition to 'Big Agriculture" to be kept to a minimum, in
this country. Mary Zanoni is well repected within the community of
opposition to the NAIS for small farmers. This is the text of an email she
sent ......

---------------------------------------------------------------------

On Tuesday, January 13, 2009, the USDA published in the Federal Register a
proposed rule that would make two elements of NAIS -- NAIS Premises ID and
NAIS individual animal ID -- effectively mandatory in several USDA animal
disease programs. A copy of the proposed rule is attached.

This rule, if it goes into effect, would be an enormous step toward
creating a fully mandatory NAIS for all U.S. livestock.

The proposed rule directly affects cattle, bison, sheep, goats, and swine.
However, it will also bring a full NAIS closer for all species.
Therefore, all owners of horses, poultry, and other species should also
submit comments and urge their livestock/farming organizations to submit
comments.

Within a few days, I will be sending out a sample letter for people to
consider as a basis for comments. The comment period is scheduled to
close on March 16, 2009. Commenting on this proposed rule is extremely
important. Not only all animal owners, but also consumers of
local/organic/grassfed foods, and everyone concerned with preserving a
place for family farms in a world increasingly dominated by Industrial
Agriculture, is urged to comment.

In regard to advancing NAIS, the four most important aspects of the
USDA/APHIS Jan. 13, 2009 rule are:

1. As of the effective date of the final rule, the NAIS Premises ID
Number (PIN) would be the only form of PIN allowed for certain official
uses. (Note on timing -- the comment period is open until March 16,
2009. Then USDA reviews the comments and at some point can issue a final
rule. That date of issuance would be the effective date for the mandatory
assignments of the NAIS Premises IDs. However, a large number of
unfavorable comments might result in the postponement, or even retraction
or cancellation, of the rule.)

2. Although the system announced in this proposed rule supposedly permits
the continued use of the National Uniform Eartagging System
(traditionally, metal tags) and a "premises-based numbering system," in
fact, these systems would be used in the same way as NAIS Animal
Identification Numbers. The older forms of eartags and individual IDs
would all be connected into the NAIS Premises ID database through the
Animal Identification Number Management System ("AINMS," the USDA system
that keeps track of what individual animal identification number is
assigned to what farm or ranch). In other words, under the system of this
proposed rule, anytime a farmer/rancher has metal tags applied to
livestock (such as for TB or brucellosis testing), the farm/ranch will be
placed into the NAIS Premises ID system and the numbers on the tags will
be tied to the farm/ranch through the USDA's AINMS system.

3. Some requirements are being added for official eartags and these new
requirements might make it very difficult or even impossible to obtain
metal tags instead of the NAIS tags. The additional requirements include
a "U.S. shield" printed on each tag, and tags must be "tamper-resistant
and have a high retention rate in the animal." The APHIS Administrator
must approve all tags. The NAIS tags now available already meet these
standards. It is not clear that metal tags have ever been judged by these
standards, so it is possible that the APHIS Administrator could fail to
approve metal and other non-NAIS tags. Also, tag manufacturers will have
a clear self-interest in abandoning production of cheap metal tags in
favor of expensive NAIS RFID tags, so non-NAIS forms of tags may quickly
become extinct.

4. The addition of a definition of the AINMS to the animal-disease
program rules in the Code of Federal Regulations is huge. Previously the
AINMS has only been defined in the non-rule NAIS informational documents
(Draft Strategic Plan, User Guide, Business Plan, etc.) so it did not have
any defined legal status. Now this proposed rule adds a definition of the
AINMS and also provides that eventually the AINMS will be used to tie all
types of "official" tags -- not just the NAIS 15-digit tags -- to a NAIS
registered premises. The proposed rule accomplishes essentially a
mandatory system for the first 2 elements of NAIS -- NAIS premises ID and
NAIS individual animal ID. The only difference from the original NAIS
plan is that now the metal tags and other traditional forms of individual
ID have become additional forms of numbering/tagging that are used as part
of NAIS.

Note that even if your state has passed a law to keep NAIS "voluntary,"
that will not necessarily save you from this rule. The Federal Register
notice specifically states: "All State and local laws and regulations
that are in conflict with this rule will be preempted." (p. 1638.)
However, if you are working to pass a state law limiting NAIS in the
present legislative session, keep working -- such a law could still be
very important. It shows the opposition of animal owners and consumers to
NAIS, which may help get the rule postponed or rescinded. In addition,
the question of whether this rule would pre-empt contrary state laws in
all circumstances may someday be open to legal challenge.

But for now, your best defense against NAIS is to make sure you comment on
the proposed rule. Watch for my sample letter to be distributed in the
next few days.


Mary Zanoni



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_______________________________________________
Homestead list and subscription:
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/homestead
Change your homestead list member options:
http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/options/homestead/lynnw1366%40hotmail.com
View the archives at:
https://lists.ibiblio.org/sympa/arc/homestead








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