ADVANCING ADT

ROAD MAP FOR

MARYLAND

A Three-Year Plan (2022-2025)

Submitted by:

CHRISTINE WILSON

ADT PROGRAM MANAGER

ANIMAL HEALTH

50 HARRY S. TRUMAN PARKWAY, ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401

410-841-5810

[SIGNATURE]

Submitted to:

KAREN BECKER, DVM

AREA VETERINARIAN FOR MARYLAND

VETERINARY SERVICES

ANIMAL AND PLANT HEALTH INSPECTION SERVICE

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

Date: 09/06/2022
Table of Contents

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY............................................................................................................... 3

II. CURRENT TRACEABILITY SITUATION ......................................................................................... 4

2.1 Who are we?....................................................................................................................... 4

2.2 Where are we now?............................................................................................................ 4

2.3 Strengths and Weaknesses................................................................................................. 5

2.4 Opportunities and Threats.................................................................................................. 6

2.5 Inventory of existing infrastructure and suitability assessment......................................... 6

III. VISION AND MISSION CONTEXT FOR ADVANCING TRACEABILITY ............................................ 7

3.1 Vision statement................................................................................................................. 7

3.2 Mission statement.............................................................................................................. 7

IV. TRACEABILITY REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................. 7

4.1 Strategic goal(s) .................................................................................................................. 7

4.2 Programmatic goal(s) (Objectives) ..................................................................................... 8

4.3 Animal Disease Traceability performance measures.......................................................... 9

4.4 Data requirements............................................................................................................ 10

4.5 Information technology plan ............................................................................................ 11

4.6 Resource requirements..................................................................................................... 11

4.7 Organizational needs........................................................................................................ 11

4.7.1 Executive support.......................................................................................... 11

4.7.2 Coordination and oversight procedures ....................................................... 12

4.7.3 Policy ............................................................................................................. 12

4.7.4 Staffing .......................................................................................................... 13

4.7.5 Budget requirements .................................................................................... 13

4.7.6 Outreach........................................................................................................ 13

4.7.6.1 Accredited veterinarians.................................................................. 13

4.7.6.2 Livestock Markets ............................................................................ 14

4.7.6.3 Industry as a whole .......................................................................... 14

4.8 Monitoring and reporting interstate movement activity ................................................. 15

V. ADVANCING TRACEABILITY ..................................................................................................... 15

5.1 Ranking of priorities for advancement............................................................................. 15

5.2 Implementation of objectives........................................................................................... 15
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I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA), as lead for animal health in the State, and therefore lead for 

Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) in Maryland, is committed to optimizing traceability as part of the overall livestock 

and poultry disease control strategy for the State. Maryland makes concerted efforts, joining other states, to meet 

federal requirements and otherwise improve traceability state and nationwide. 

Key to implementing ADT is including identification requirements in state regulations that allow enforcement of 

requirements for identification of animals. This requirement has been incorporated in movement and exhibition 

regulations in Maryland, including a state requirement for RFID identification to enter exhibitions which has been in 

place since 2016. With regulations in place, education and outreach will continue to be used to inform industry, 

farmers, veterinarians and other stakeholders of identification requirements, and to promote the use of electronic 

identification (“RFIDs” and microchips) to have more reliable, efficient and rapid animal identification for traceback 

and trace forward purposes, as well as filling industry needs for rapid movement within commerce. 

Going forward, enforcement of the requirements for animal identification will be imposed at markets, and is 

already being enforced at exhibitions, and in the review of Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (CVIs). MDA is 

currently conducting audits of markets that include regular recordkeeping checks and testing traceback capability, 

using current regulations that require identification in certain species at certain stages of movement. To encourage 

use of electronic id and data collection, RFID tags and taggers are provided free to producers, market operators and 

accredited veterinarians. A novel use and programming of software created in house enables rapid tracing of data 

even from hardcopy CVIs. The gap that needs to be addressed soon is the lack of use of electronic identification and 

data collection in some markets and lack of use of electronic CVIs by many veterinarians. The road forward will focus 

on markets and veterinarians that have poor compliance or limited use of electronic systems to bring them into 

compliance or improve the data collection efficiency, through training with and provision of electronic readers and 

software for CVI preparation. 

A summary of the steps to be taken is given below:

STEPS TO CONTINUE HIGH LEVEL ANIMAL DISEASE TRACEABILITY MARYLAND:

• Maintain skilled ADT management team 

• Renew ADT Advisory group to identify gaps and solutions from the group throughout process

• Develop alternatives to meet objectives by species.

• Recommend regulatory revisions or new regulations to implement ADT.

• Determine specific annual tagging needs, mechanisms, inventory and maintenance systems 

• Improve recordkeeping system in MDA and in industry to maintain reliable tag records –, maximize use of 

electronic capture of CVI information by utilizing statevet.com that ties all program information together and 

ties into other state and national database programs.

• Continue traceback check system to test capability

• Provide outreach and education to stakeholders regarding ADT requirements

• Promote compliance and use of electronic tagging and data capture systems at all markets, but specifically 

Far West market where participation and compliance are poor

• Promote use of electronic tagging, data capture and use of CVI software by veterinarians.

• Further promote and ensure compliance with enforcement measures:

• Semi-annual market audits

• Regular market inspections

• CVI review and follow-up with accredited veterinarians

• Fines and/or suspension of operations as necessary

Estimated costs of implementation over the next 3 years, not including in kind contribution of MDA operations staff 

and management, is estimated to be $69k in FY2022, with potentially slight increases requested for FY2023, and for 

FY2024 due to cost-of-living increases. 
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II. CURRENT TRACEABILITY SITUATION

2.1 Who are we?

The MDA Animal Health Program is the lead for the Animal Disease Traceability program in Maryland, in 

cooperation with the USDA, APHIS, and VS through the ADT Cooperative Agreement. An ADT Coordinator, 

2 administrative assistants working part time on ADT, and field personnel work collaboratively with 

industry organizations, individual companies and farmers/producers. The primary constituents are 

represented in the ADT working advisory group. 

What is the ADT working advisory group? 

Traceability Advisory Group meets at the discretion of the State Veterinarian annually or as needed. The 

group consists of representatives of producer, processor, veterinary and marketing organizations, animal 

health officials, and cooperative extension.

What does statewide, tribal-wide, territory-wide mean?

• All ADT requirements and policies will apply in all portions of the state, that is, statewide.

• Maryland does not have any significant tribal groups that form a constituency for agricultural 

purposes. 

• Maryland does not have any geographic areas designated as a territory.

How is traceability data used internally, externally?

• ADT data will be used internally (within MDA, which will hold the confidential data) to provide location 

and statistical information for disease response preparation and control, and for animal health 

promotion planning purposes.

• ADT data will only be provided externally to other partners, such as the state and federal health and 

environmental departments, or other industry partners, on a need-to-know basis based on a public 

health need such as disease response and control by the Order of the Secretary of Agriculture; this 

need is most likely to arise with spread of a zoonotic disease. Overall, confidentiality will be strictly 

maintained, and incorporated by regulation.

What values guide the animal disease traceability system?

• Confidentiality

• Cost and Time Efficiency

• Protection of Commerce by minimizing delays in commerce or cost to industry

• Reliability of data

• Individual right to privacy 

• Public right to consumer protection

2.2 Where are we now? 

• Maryland views ADT as critical to rapid, efficient disease response and control. In addition, it will be 

used to better estimate resource needs for animal health promotion and disease response planning. 

It is not a stand-alone initiative; it is one strong element of a modern, efficient disease control system.

What measures of traceability capability are currently being used? 

• Maryland has done and will continue to do tracebacks on real-time disease cases and track time to 

traceback or trace forward to test traceability capability for different species. 

What are the specific values and associated interpretation? 

• In general, tracebacks can be accomplished within 24 hours, but usually same day, and often within 1 

hour, indicating that recordkeeping at markets and exhibitions (primary intersections of animal 

movement) is adequate if not well-maintained. 

• Gaps occur when animals move through dealers; indicating that dealer record-keeping is variable and 

sometimes inadequate, and dealer cooperation can be slow.
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• Gap exists in Far West markets where metal tags are used still (plan is to pull metal tags), and accurate 

recording of tag data is variable

How is coordination being currently achieved within the Program?

• All personnel in the Animal Health Program are kept aware of ADT requirements and need to identify 

premises if not animal identification on documentation. Headquarters Operations personnel overlap 

with Field Services Operations personnel, and Laboratory personnel interact daily with other unit 

personnel; therefore, communication is relatively fluid to coordinate disease tracing efforts. 

How is coordination being currently achieved state-wide, tribal-wide, territory-wide?

• MDA is in direct communication with Auction Market operators, UMD Extension, and individual 

producers, including ADT Advisory Group members, to develop workable methods to implement 

and/or comply with current and any future ADT requirements.

How does the present unit coordinate activities with other existing agencies/units?

• Individual or conference calls are made to discuss and gain updates on ADT plans and implementation

• Notifications by mail or electronically to disseminate information and/or solicit collaboration as need 

be.

What standards for traceability are currently being used? Are they appropriate?

• MDA aims to be able to traceback and trace forward any disease case within 24 hours, with an ideal 

goal of same day. This is appropriate given that same day traceback allows same day response to 

minimize any disease spread but acknowledges that there will be some delay in contacting individual 

producers to confirm traces.

What is the state of technology infrastructure? Capability in terms of size? Compatibility within and outside 

the agency/unit/department/etc. for sharing data when needed?

• MDA has recently obtained funding to purchase software which will allow for integration between 

other cloud-based USDA approved programs.

• Multiple logs or information systems are in use for multiple purposes, with no automated linkage. 

• A novel programming has been established to rapidly search CVI information from hard copy CVIs filed 

electronically.

Are requests for information available 24/7, or only available M-F, 40 hours per week, if authorized personnel 

are present?

• Information deemed necessary can be accessed 24/7 through cloud-based links or remotely into the 

general databases; multiple key personnel have this ability using laptops that can access information 

at any distance within the United States mainland (haven’t tested Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico or the 

Marshall Islands).

What is the impact of state, tribe, or territory funding on capability? 

• State funding is extremely limited due to current budget constraints. Comprehensive data 

management systems and software upgrades are necessary to collate and disseminate electronic 

information collected from eCVI’s and associated electronic data as federal partners are requesting 

additional information in an expedited timeframe.

How does Federal funding fit into the plan? 

• Federal funding will likely be needed to continue data entry and compilation for ADT, and to obtain 

an adequate data information system. MDA continues to look for sources of federal funding.

2.3 Strengths and Weaknesses

What are the strengths of the organization in terms of technology, human resources, personnel capabilities, 

etc.?

• MDA is well versed in animal disease traceability concepts, needs and national plans, and has a 

combination of well-experienced and committed personnel to manage individual parts of the ADT 
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program; notably, personnel with long auction market experience, knowledge and existing 

relationships in the livestock and poultry community that enable communication and implementation 

of ADT actions, and moreover an IT specialist well versed in federal and State-wide platforms. 

 What are the weaknesses in terms of “lack of” technology, human resources, personnel capabilities, etc.? 

• MDA is lacking a complete ADT staff due to fiscal constraints, which makes management of the 

program problematic, and implementation of methods delayed. Since the Inception of the ADT 

program, we have identified areas that require additional resources in order not only maintain but to 

grow, which include:

• MDA receives approximately 57k CVI’s to review per year via mail, email, GVL, VetSentry and VSPS

• Modernization at Auction Markets are a necessity in order to have efficient C.O.B.

• Veterinarians that submit CVI’s that contain high volumes of bovine and swine should be trained as 

well as be trained on RFID readers, which will in turn save time and be more sufficient when recording

tag numbers

• We are currently on standby for our own eCVI interface which should be available within the next 

year and at that point we will need to seek additional funding.

2.4 Opportunities and Threats

 Does this plan create an opportunity in ability to respond? 

• Yes. 

Does this plan enable or avoid consequences of potential threats?

• Yes. Increased traceability can decrease the spread of disease.

 Does this plan provide for better use of available resources than current approaches?

• Yes, in preparing to enforce disease traceability requirements, increased emphasis on enforcement 

of existing regulations has improved use of field inspector personnel.

Does this plan enhance networking opportunities? 

• Yes, there is another and specific reason to contact producers and operators, along with Extension.

If this plan is not implemented, what are the threats? 

• Decreased response time to disease events; loss of control of some disease events if traceback cannot

be established.

• If this plan is not implemented, will others be tasked with doing so? 

• No, there are no other government agencies likely to do this, although it is conceivable that federal 

agents might have to be involved, and/or producers and operators would have to figure out a system 

on their own to meet federal requirements for identification.

Have previous efforts to coordinate with other entities within the applicant’s boundaries, and outside the 

applicant’s boundaries, been complicated or unavailable for not having this plan in place? 

• No

2.5 Inventory of existing infrastructure and suitability assessment

Human resources: 

• MDA has a 0.20 FTE Admin Assist II, 0.3 FTE Contractual Data Entry person, and ~0.1 FTE ADT Program 

Manager (State covers and additional .1 FTE, and remaining FTE is devoted to other duties), with the 

remaining State funded field and operations staff (_8_) available to assist on any project. 

• Space availability: MDA has limited space to house personnel, computers, yet adequate space for 

administrative supplies, including tags and readers.

• Connectivity resources, both in office and in the field: MDA has excellent field connectivity as all field 

and operations personnel are equipped with cell phones and laptops which have internet accessibility.
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• Access to USDA animal disease traceability and animal health information resources: MDA to acquire 

these if they are available online.

• Organization of all existing paper record systems used to access animal disease traceability or animal 

health information: MDA has a records maintenance and retrieval system that is in accordance with 

State requirements and allows for five years of traceback from hard copies on non-federal disease 

program information, and 10 years of herd data for brucellosis and tuberculosis cattle herds.

• MDA computerized data management capability: security is provided by e-authentication on USDA 

records and includes present storage size of 1.7TB on an MDA protected server for non-USDA

documents. Presently information is scanned or transferred by hand from ICVIs and is securely located 

on the MDA protected server. 

• Automated data capture capability is by CORE ONE.

III. VISION AND MISSION CONTEXT FOR ADVANCING TRACEABILITY

3.1 Vision Statement:

• A State in which healthy animals produced under humane and environmentally sound conditions 

enhance the health, economic welfare, and quality of life of consumers and producers. The MDA 

Animal Health Program is to advance traceability by Enhanced disease response.

• Goal “to identify premises and animals that had direct contact with diseases of concern”

• Reduced impact of animal health incidents or agro-terrorism events

• Improved our response to animal emergency events

• Promote Industry and Producer Benefits

• Maintain confidence in animal products 

• Gain market access and consumer demand

• Modernization is key for C.O.B.

3.2 Mission Statement

• The Mission of the Animal Health Program is to execute the authority of the Secretary of Agriculture 

to control contagious and infectious diseases of livestock, poultry and other animals when they impact 

the health of livestock, poultry or the public. To that end, the program will continue to:

• Conduct animal disease prevention and control Programs involving field, laboratory and 

Administrative Operations.

• Prepare for and execute, if necessary, provisions in Emergency Support Function (ESF) 6 (Evacuation 

and Sheltering Operations and ESF 16 pertaining to Animal AG Emergencies. 

• Exercise law and regulatory enforcement of the Secretary as it pertains to animal health and related 

matters.

• Provide veterinary and laboratory consultative and diagnostic services to the animal owning public. 

IV.TRACEABILITY REQUIREMENTS

4.1 Strategic goal(s)

• The Traceability goals for the state of Maryland reflect a cooperative relationship between the 

Maryland Department of Agriculture, the Cooperator and the United States Department of 

Agriculture (USDA), Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), and Veterinary Services (VS). 

The mission-related goals, objectives, and anticipated accomplishments of the MDA Animal Health 

Program for conducting animal disease traceability are identical to the goals, objectives, and 

anticipated accomplishments of the USDSA, APHIS, and VS. Also, a successful Animal Disease 

Traceability program will add significant value to our state’s livestock. Understanding that no program 

will have support of everyone impacted, the value of Animal Disease Traceability will be proportionate 

to the willing participation of those involved (producers, markets, dealers, etc.). Maryland will achieve 

its described activities despite being understaffed. Maryland will strive to place more personnel in 

the field, as well as administrative personnel to effectively implement the Animal Disease Traceability 
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Program. Animal disease traceability will continue to be supported in Maryland with the aid of this 

Cooperative Agreement primarily through the following objectives: 

• Traceability Performance Measures (TPMs): using state and federally initiated traceback exercises 

and compliance audits at markets to identify gaps in traceability and for means of improvement.

• Administration of Official Identification devices thru funding support to purchase and supply at 

least one of our Tagging Stations with RFID readers and software to support the use of RFID tags. 

Additional resources requested to support purchase and shipment of low frequency HDX RFID 

tags and taggers. 

• Information Sharing of Animal Identification data with state and federal partners through input 

of tag and premise data into CORE ONE software and thru quarterly electronic compilation of 

market tagging data.

• Outreach and Education to Stakeholders, including the ADT Advisory Group, market operators, 

veterinarians and producers regarding official identification (tagging) movement documentation 

and record-keeping requirements. 

• Electronic Records will be collected in real time into the EMRS2 by the ADT Data Entry FTE for 

Traceability exercises. Tag, Vaccine and Testing Data will be compiled in CORE ONE federal 

database including market data. Non electronic data and electronic data from non-integrated 

software platforms are manually entered. Additional resources are requested to support a Data 

Entry specialist

• Compliance and Enforcement of ADT regulations, including daily ICVI examination, weekly letters 

of ICVI compliance to State Veterinarians, issuance of a three-tiered non-compliance letter 

system. State inspections and enforcement of federal regulations at facilities linked to interstate 

commerce, and possibly joint inspections and enforcement procedures with federal partners, as 

agreed upon with the Assistant Director-District 1, will continue in FY2019 as our presence at 

markets on and off auction days is commonplace. 

4.2 Programmatic goals (objectives)

• Current parameters to measure traceability

• Review all investigation tracebacks in Maryland this current year to identify gaps in the system

• Identify parameters used

• Trace reference animal to previous production unit of commingling

• Trace reference animal to birth premises

• Trace exposed animal (1 step forward)

• Determine at risk animals and locations (from first index herd or location)

• Develop or improve performance measure for traceability

• Performance measures to measure advancements in ADT; incorporate federal guidelines and 

terminology for performance measures

• Document time to trace animals through the market

• Document time to trace animals to the previous location of commingling

• Time to report to the State/Tribe of official tagging/identifying of an animal in question that has 

moved interstate

• Time for the State/Tribe of first officially tagging/identifying an animal in question that has 

moved interstate to provide a record of the official tag distribution,

• Time to report to the State/Tribe from which an animal in question has moved interstate, and

• Time for the State/Tribe from which an animal in question has moved interstate to provide the 

location and contact information from which the animal was moved interstate.

• Staffing
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• Identify, fund and train existing and new team members

• Provide human resources for website, outreach, data entry and IT support

• Electronic systems and web updates to reflect USDA approach

• Update MDA website on a quarterly basis

• Remain current on program polices and industry 

• Make all ADT information, including emails, available on MDA website

• Continue the refining of the Maryland Poultry Database

• Outreach and Education for vets, markets, exhibitors and producer

• Develop posters for display in markets, fairs and shows and vets office to promote ADT

• Conduct outreach, by mailing to vets, industry associations and exhibitions.

• Traceability Advisory Working Group

• Invite key industry partners to participate in advisory working group

• Enhance information management systems

• Capture data from office personnel monthly for disease programs and interstate movement

• Capture number of animals associated with interstate movement

• Work with office staff to begin to develop electronic searchable database.

• Legal Review Establish state legal authority to administer animal health policies within jurisdiction

• Review current law/regulation on animal movement

• Review current law/regulation on identification requirements to date

• Draft proposed changes to any regulation to fix current issues for ADT

4.3 ADT Trace Performance Measures (TPMs)

Time to report to the State/Tribe of official tagging/identifying of an animal in question that has 

moved interstate 

• Current Baseline

 <24 hrs. for markets, exhibitions, producers.

 Variable for dealers (<24 to >week)

• Projected Advancement or Goal

 Improved time to report for dealer held animals to <48 hrs.

Time for the State/Tribe of first officially tagging/identifying an animal in question that has moved 

interstate to provide a record of the official tag distribution,

• Current Baseline

 <24 hrs. for MDA issued tags for livestock. 

 <24 hrs. to >week for dealers /small markets for poultry and livestock Variable for 

dealers (<24 to >week)

• Projected Advancement or Goal

 Improved time to report for dealer held animals to <48 hrs. 

Time to report to the State/Tribe from which an animal in question has moved interstate,

• Current Baseline

 <24 hrs. 

• Projected Advancement or Goal

 Improved time to report for dealer held animals to <48 hrs. 
10

Time for the State/Tribe from which an animal in question has moved interstate to provide the 

location and contact information from which the animal was moved interstate.

• Current Baseline

• <24 hrs. for animals moving legally

• Projected Advancement or Goal

 Continue to educate public on CVI requirements

Time to trace forward through market to next premise

• Current Baseline

 <8 hrs.

 <24 hrs. to >week for dealers /small markets for poultry and livestock Variable for

dealers (<24 to >week)

 Projected Advancement or Goal

 Adequate to date

4.4 Data requirements

• A PIN or LID will be assigned to all Maryland producers and Auction Markets when they provide 

MDA staff with current and accurate herd owner contact information, including but not limited 

to: owner’s name, mailing address, and phone number via a Premise Registration

• Maryland will not accept brands or tattoos as official ID, unless the animal is accompanied with 

official breed registration documentation. 

• MDA supports the use of official ID tags to identify all adult cattle prior to interstate movement 

to comply with the federal rule.

• Tags and applicators may be distributed by approved device manufacturers, approved livestock 

facilities, approved tagging sites, accredited veterinarians, MDA personnel, or shipped directly 

to the producers 

• MDA utilizes the SCS CoreOne system as our primary tag distribution record keeping system for 

NUES tags. 

• MDA will continue to use USDA’s AIMS system for AIN distribution record keeping. 

• Data will be shared with AHER, as well as other states and tribes on an as-needed basis for 

animal disease response and control. 

• Fully describe standards to be used for official animal identification, including arrangements 

with other States, Tribes, Territories, as well as official identification methods/devices used 

within the cooperator’s jurisdiction

• AIN Tags must be USDA official tags and must adhere to the following: 

 Designed for one-time use (tamper evident) Imprinted with: - AIN (15-digit 

number starting with 840) Official Ear tag Shield - Unlawful to Remove -

Manufacturer’s Logo or Trademark (printed or impression of)

• Producers should not sell, loan, or give tags they have purchased to other 

producers, because all AIN tags they have purchased are recorded as being 

distributed to them using the location identification system used by their State.

What tag distribution record keeping systems are being used? 

• Statevet.com

• SCS CoreOne

• Logbooks

• Annual Inventories

How and when will data be shared with other States, Tribes, Territories, and USDA? 

• States, Tribes, Territories

 Data will be shared with on an as needed basis
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• USDA

 CVI’s, Auction Market tagging information be uploaded to SCS Coreone for ease of 

access

 Data will be shared in accordance with any requests made

4.5 Information technology plan

The primary IT needs of MDOL for the successful completion of the traceability roadmap are: 

• Integration using statevet.com

 Global Vetlink

 VSPS

 VetSentry

 SCS Coreone

• Uploading all pre-typed eCVI’s from states that do not currently utilize USDA approved 

integrated systems to statevet.com

• Manual entry will be required in order to catalog tags into database from:

 Handwritten CVI’s

 Auction Markets

• Train Industry on the value of implementing technology within their workplace for ease of 

traceability

• Distribute high volume markets, fair and veterinarians with the following:

 RFID Readers

 840 Tags 

 Training on RFID Reader

 Training and Direction on using eCVI’s through a 3rd party vendor such as:

• Global Vetlink

• VSPS

• VetSentry

• Statevet.com for Maryland (when it becomes available, within 6 months)

4.6 Resource requirements

Funding for CVI Central

• CVI Central commissioning fee (one time) $17,088

• CVI Central Annual subscription $39,601

• eCVI platform interface for Maryland (Funds TBD)

Will consultants be needed?

• No

Is a continuity of operation plan (COOP) in place and how frequently is it tested? 

• Yes, and it is usually tested annually.

Are automated data capture resources needed?

• Additional wands are requested and planned for use.

Will additional or new space be required? 

• No

4.7 Organizational needs

Does a need for organizational change exist? Is it recognized?

• No

Can additional resources be leveraged within the current administrative structure? 

• No

4.7.1 Executive Support

Is additional support from executive management needed? 

• No
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How is accountability provided? 

• Monthly reports and “State Stats” (statistics) are given to executive staff; 

monthly meetings are held with executive staff where ADT issues can be 

discussed; frequent meetings with fiscal to discuss current or future funding and 

expenditures are held as needed

How are officials briefed on progress and baseline measures of performance? 

• On an as needed basis with immediate supervisor; quarterly with SAHO and 

AVIC, otherwise, annually.

4.7.2 Coordination and oversight procedures

What is the make-up of the applicant’s animal disease traceability advisory group? How 

frequently are they engaged? 

• The advisory group will meet annually and as needed based on current issues at 

the time. The board consists of:

• Producers

• Processors

• Veterinarians

• Marketing Organizations

• Animal Health Officials

• Cooperative Extensions

How are emergency preparedness resources engaged or responded to when necessary? 

• Monthly departmental meetings on emergency preparedness are held for 

coordination of activities; frequent (monthly to quarterly) state ER exercises 

are held in which MDA participates; MDA responds immediately when 

activated for an emergency.

How is compatibility with other States, Tribes, Territories, and USDA monitored? 

• Conference calls or in person meetings are held multiple times through the 

year. Meetings may be held as part of NASDA calls, USAHA or regional USAHA 

meetings.

 How are responsibilities assigned for implementing the plan? 

• The State Veterinarian is responsible for implementing the plan and assigns 

duties to staff where appropriate.

How are disputes arbitrated? 

• The State Veterinarian or his representative will meet with other 

agencies/states to discuss and develop consensus for any issue in dispute.

How is feedback obtained relative to perception of successful implementation above and 

below the administrative authority? 

• Feedback is received usually directly, verbally, and in discussion.

How is transition achieved when administrators are replaced? 

• New administrators will be briefed on programmatic goals and objectives.

4.7.3 Policy

How do existing mandates assist, limit, or modify what is intended to be achieved? 

• Existing mandates are in concert with animal disease traceability goals. 

Existing mandates to monitor auction markets and exhibitions enable 

compliance checks for ADT at these venues without additional staff resources 

needed.
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Is there a need to address any specific mandates and act to modify them to align them 

with current goals and objectives? 

• No

4.7.4 Staffing Needs

• Administrative Specialist who can be cross trained in both field audits and 

training end users on RFID Readers and eCVI implementation

4.7.5 Budget requirements

How are you funded for animal disease traceability? 

• State and Federal funds.

What are the funding requirements projected by year for FY2022, FY2023, and FY2024 for 

implementing this plan? 

• Budgetary funding requests for FY2022 are $70,000, FY2023 and FY2024 will 

be slightly increased for COLA, equipment replacement and software 

upgrades,

How can the applicant insulate against budget cuts and shortfalls?

• Management tasks are split between personnel that have other assignments, 

but are, to date, expected to have a position within the next year funded by 

the State and supplemented by two contract positions supported by federal 

funds. If federal funds are cut, work and implementation of programs will 

consequently be delayed.

Can other funding sources be leveraged to support this plan? 

• None known to date, there are very tight budgets in Maryland, we are 

mandated not to increase fees and have no appreciable revenue anticipated.

4.7.6 Outreach 

4.7.6.1 Accredited veterinarians

What is the plan for informing accredited veterinarians of the new framework 

and the specific three-year plan for implementation? 

• They will be informed through biannual electronic messages or 

by mail.

What continuing education is being planned for improving data quality relative to 

animal health information systems being used? 

• Submitting official forms in a timely manner. 

• Vets not meeting standards are informed individually in writing 

of specific inadequacies and made aware that continued 

discrepancies put their accreditation at risk. Follow-up letters 

and calls are made as needed.

What is the plan for enhancing the use of ICVIs, if any? 

• Implementation of statevet.com to integrate ICVI’s 

• Two Continuing educational trainings in electronic data/ CVI 

programs and ADT is planned for FY22 to reach eastern and 

western MD vets.

What role, if any, does the accredited veterinarian have in 

providing low-cost, official identification tags/devices to 

producers? 
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• Upon request to our office, accredited veterinarians are issued 

RFID tags free of charge. Free RFID tags are promoted annually 

through direct email to accredited vets and producers, with 

signed agreements requiring vets to return distribution log 

information.

4.7.6.2 Livestock markets

What continuing education efforts are being planned for addressing the concerns 

of the livestock markets in the jurisdiction? 

• In person discussions, written descriptions of ADT requirements, 

posters provided, regular inspections, compliance audits to check 

record keeping systems are maintained.

What is the plan for accessing or requesting traceability information from

livestock markets?

• We already access this information upon request. As a 

condition of their tagging agreement (updated in 2018), markets 

provide access to their tagging records monthly. 

4.7.6.3 Industry as a whole

The group consists of representatives of producer, processor, veterinary and 

marketing organizations, animal health officials, and cooperative extensions are 

given in statements below.

How is industry being informed of the implementation plan? 

• Through the ADT advisory group; industry associations including 

Maryland Farm Bureau, Maryland Cattleman’s Association, 

Delmarva Chicken Association and Maryland Pork Producers; 

mailings to producers using (confidential) market and association 

lists; public media campaigns; Press releases; public notices 

through the State process of proposed regulations.

How is the advisory committee being leveraged for this continuing education 

purpose? 

• As above, through contacts with their part of the industry, and in 

public or association meetings.

What other resources are available for industry outreach?

• Industry has newsletters and mailing lists which can be used to 

send information. Local major farming newspapers will receive 

press releases, along with usual press release list members and 

social networking such as Facebook and Twitter.

What constitutes industry? What species are involved? 

• Commercial and/or integrated Poultry industry (broilers and 

layers), cattle, (beef and dairy – small), swine (small farms), sheep 

and goat (small farms), equine (racing industry, breeding) 

primarily.

How are under-represented and under-served communities being included in the 

outreach plan? 

• They will be informed same as all others; through producer lists, 

press releases, newsletters, newspapers, farm bureau, etc. The 
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underserved are rural counties which receive rural news through 

normal channels. Translation of outreach pieces is planned for 

FY23 as needed.

• This 3-year plan will include outreach with 4-H programs. 

4.8 Monitoring and reporting interstate movement activity (required to be reported through cooperative

agreements)

How will the number of animals and the number of shipments be monitored that move interstate? 

• This data is tabulated monthly in the Animal Health “State Stats” program in excel and compiled 

annually in the annual report.

How will the data be verified or validated? 

• Currently, all CVI’s regardless of movement are reviewed and cataloged by source of how the CVI 

was received (USPS, e-mail, 3rd party software, etc.), species, count, state, tribe or territory by an 

administrative assistant

• Veterinarians are contacted either in writing or by phone to address corrective actions needed. 

• MDA is currently transitioning from manual entry to using statevet.com as it integrates with SCS 

Coreone in order to improve data entry as well as time management

V. TRACEABILITY IMPLEMENTATION

5.1 Ranking of priorities for advancement

• Modernize all facets of ADT for faster tracing capabilities

• Maximize outreach in order to distribute and implement and official EID’s

• Distribution of official EID tags

• Maximize the use of secure electronic data collection, storage with statevet.com

• Ensure RFID readers are available for use at all livestock markets as well as veterinarians that have a 

high volume of cattle or swine 

5.2 Implementation of objectives 

• Maximize the implementation and use of official EID across the state. Continue outreach of cattle 

producers and veterinarians to transition to the use of EID 

• ADT trainings for livestock producers, auction markets, veterinarians, and livestock exhibitions in the 

use of electronics

• Implementing a dedicated team for ADT that will help to modernize areas within the program 

including:

• CVIs

• vaccine records

• Data management

• Outreach

• Training

• Audits

• Distribution of Tags and Readers