Posted in News and Issues
ACTION ALERT: Public hearing on proposed regulation to tag dairy cows
Earlier this summer, the Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC)
proposed
a new regulation that would require all dairy cattle being
transported
within Texas to be identified with an "official identification device
or
identification device approved by the Commission." The Farm and
Ranch
Freedom Alliance and Liberty Ark sent out action alerts urging
everyone
to submit comments on the proposed regulation. Thank you to those who
sent comments to the agency!
The TAHC has released the agenda for its next meeting, and the
Commission will be considering adoption of the proposed regulation.
This
is the last chance for people to have input on the proposed
regulation!
WHERE: TAHC's main office, 2105 Kramer Lane, Austin, Texas.
WHEN: Tuesday, September 18th, 2007. The meeting begins at 8:30 a.m.
We
don't know what time they'll get to the proposed regulation, although
it
will probably be mid-morning.
WHAT: Opportunity for public comment on proposed regulation.
We urged everyone to submit written comments on the proposed
regulation
because we all have to stand together on this issue, regardless of
what
type of animal we own. For purposes of the Commission meeting,
though,
it is especially important that people who have dairy cattle come to
the
meeting. The Commissioners will pay the most attention to what diary
owners have to say, since they are the ones who are directly
affected.
So if you own a dairy cow, plan to come to the meeting next Tuesday!
Don't own a dairy cow? Make sure any dairy farmers in your area know about the proposed regulation and the meeting, so that they can come!
Some background on the proposed regulation is below. You can read the
proposed tagging regulation, as well as other proposed regulations,
at
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/archive/June82007/PROPOSED/4.AGRICULTURE.html.
BACKGROUND/ TALKING POINTS
The Texas Animal Health Commission (TAHC) has proposed a new
regulation,
4 TAC section 43(n), which provides that all dairy cattle being
transported within Texas shall be identified with an "official
identification device or identification device approved by the
Commission." The stated reason for the requirement is based on the
risk
of tuberculosis (TB) exposure from untested dairy cattle.
The proposed regulation is unnecessary. According to TAHC, the risk
of
tuberculosis infection is coming from out of state - so the agency
should be focused on entry requirements and testing out of state
cattle
coming in to Texas, not burdening in-state producers.
The proposed regulation also opens the door for the agency to require
RFID tagging and NAIS premises registration requirements for dairy
cattle. The proposed regulation limits the identification to a
"device,"
which may or may not include traditional forms of identification such
as
tattoos and brands. We've already seen a similar approach in
Michigan.
The Michigan Department of Agriculture made a "policy decision" that
the
only form of acceptable identification under its tuberculosis program
was NAIS-compliant RFID tags, complete with premises registration!
The proposed Texas regulation by itself won't force dairy cattle
owners
to register and use electronic tags. But it would be very easy for
the
agency to take that next step whenever it chooses to, with no
additional
regulations or notice.
The Farm and Ranch Freedom Alliance submitted comments that explain
the
issue in more detail. You can read the comments at
http://farmandranchfreedom.org/content/files/7.18.07%20Comments%20on%20proposed%20TB%20regs.pdf
The proposed regulation can be found at
http://www.sos.state.tx.us/texreg/archive/June82007/PROPOSED/4.AGRICULTURE.html#13.
And you can read the TAHC's meeting minutes at
http://www.tahc.state.tx.us/news/meetings/Synopsis_CommMtg_May2007.pdf.
The discussion of the proposed TB regulation starts on page 3.
As always, if you have any questions, contact FARFA at
info@farmandranchfreedom.org
I received this from the dairy owner that we buy raw milk from. NOT something they want to have to deal with.
Blessings,
