May 14, 2004

Gene Hugoson, President

National Association of State Departments of Agriculture

1156 15th Street, N.W., Suite 1020
Washington, D.C. 20005

Dear Commissioner Hugoson,

            The mission of the National Institute for Animal Agriculture (NIAA) is to be the forum for building consensus and advancing solutions for animal agriculture, and to provide continuing education and communication linkages for animal agriculture professionals.

            The following are a resolution and position statement, respectively, that were promulgated by the NIAA Animal Identification and Information Systems Committee and adopted by the NIAA Board of Directors during the 2004 NIAA Annual Meeting on April 8, in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Funding for the National Identification System: We encourage that adequate funds be made available in FY 2005 and subsequent budget years to USDA, APHIS, VS for the implementation and administration of the National Animal Identification system and funds be made immediately available to all states to implement and administer a national uniform state premises system as described in the U.S. Animal Identification Plan.

Confidentiality of Producer Records: We support the development and implementation of a national animal identification system as outlined in the U.S. Animal Identification Plan with the understanding, as noted in the USAIP, that producer data required by the system be kept confidential and exempt from the Freedom of Information Act. 

Sincerely,

Dr. Rick Sibbel

Chairman of the Board

CC:       Dr. Mark Engle, Chair, Animal Identification & Information Systems Committee

            Dr. Robert Fourdraine, Vice Chair, Animal Identification & Information Systems Committee