Neugebauer Questions Canadian, Australian Reps on Animal ID

Neugebauer Questions Canadian, Australian Reps on Animal ID
Thursday, September 15, 2005

Washington, DC - Congressman Randy Neugebauer participated in a House Agriculture Committee hearing Thursday that reviewed the animal identification programs currently in place in Australia and Canada.

"From what I heard during today's hearing, there are several things to like about the Canadian and Australian animal identification systems," Neugebauer said. "Most importantly, they are both industry-led and the information database is controlled by the private sector in order to protect the privacy of producers. As the United States puts its own system in place, I believe these two qualities are essential, and I am pleased USDA has recognized this as well."

Neugebauer questioned the managers of Canada's and Australia's animal identification organizations on the technology being used in their animal identification programs. He specifically asked whether radio frequency identification (RFID) is the best technology they found to be available. Representatives from both countries responded that their organizations moved toward RFID technology because it provided efficient tracking and opportunity to create value-added functions in their systems and because the cost of RFID tags has declined.

Thursday's hearing comes on the heels of a trip Neugebauer and several other Agriculture Committee members took to Canada in June. While on this trip, Neugebauer observed how the Canadian animal identification system works.

"It is important that the United States institutes its own system that meets its own needs," Neugebauer said. "However, it is also a good idea to look at what other countries have done to learn what has worked and what has not so that we don't make the same mistakes."

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/tx19_neugebauer/AnimalIDhearing091505.html