Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2009/01/13/E9-353/official-animal-identification-numbering-systems
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 22:50:11
Document Index: 565031171

Matched Legal Cases: ['§\u200971', '§\u200971', '§\u200979', '§\u200971', '§\u200979', '§\u200979', 'art 71', 'art 79', 'art 80', '§\u200971', '§\u200971', '§\u200971', '§\u200979', '§\u200979', '§\u200971', '§\u200971', '§\u200971', '§\u200979', '§\u200971', '§\u200971', '§\u200979', '§\u200979']

Federal Register :: Official Animal Identification Numbering Systems
A Proposed Rule by the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service on 01/13/2009
1634-1643 (10 pages)
https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E9-353 https://www.federalregister.gov/d/E9-353
Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov/​fdmspublic/​component/​main?​main=​DocketDetail&​d=​APHIS-2007-0096 to submit or view comments and to view supporting and related materials available electronically.
On July 18, 2007, APHIS adopted that interim rule as a final rule (72 FR 39301-39307, Docket No. 04-052-2) [1] with several changes. Neither the interim rule nor the final rule required the use of the AIN, the GIN, or the PIN.
Moving to one uniform, standardized, technology-neutral numbering system for the identification of livestock, however, is essential to achieving more efficient and effective animal disease traceability. Therefore, in the Supplementary Information section of our July 2007 final rule, we noted that we viewed the USA and manufacturer's code numbering systems as transitional. We anticipated phasing them out as we focused our efforts on moving toward a single system whereby APHIS would recognize as official only the AIN with the 840 prefix to the extent practical. We further indicated that we would Start Printed Page 1635provide additional information about the transition process in future rulemaking.
Because the use of a single numbering system to represent premises in all animal-health data systems would help to standardize information and to enhance existing disease-tracing and emergency-response capabilities, we are proposing to remove the PIN format that uses the State postal abbreviation and are proposing to create a single national format for the PIN by requiring that all PINs issued on or after the date on which this proposed rule becomes effective would have to use the seven-character alphanumeric code format. We would amend the definitions of premises identification number (PIN) in §§ 71.1, 77.2, 79.1, and 80.1 accordingly.
In keeping with our intentions to phase out the use of those types of AINs and to achieve greater standardization in numbering systems and means and methods of animal identification, we are now proposing to revert to the earlier requirement that all official eartags bear the U.S. shield. The requirement would apply to official eartags issued 1 year or more after the date of the finalization of Start Printed Page 1636this proposed rule. This proposed change would be complemented by another, also aimed at achieving greater standardization: We would amend the definition of official identification device or method in §§ 71.1, 78.1, and 79.1 to state that, going forward, the U.S. shield would be reserved only for use on official identification devices approved by APHIS, i.e., that it could not be used on any unofficial identification devices. As is the case with our proposed 840 AIN requirement, the 1-year phase-in period is intended to allow producers adequate time to work through existing inventories of eartags.
Our proposed definition of official eartag would also require such eartags, including those that use the National Uniform Eartagging System, if issued or distributed in conjunction with a Federal disease program, to be correlated with the PINs of the premises to which they are issued, by means of the Animal Identification Number Management System (AINMS) or other recordkeeping systems approved by the Administrator. (Both the National Uniform Eartagging System and the AINMS are discussed in greater detail later in this document.) For this proposed requirement to be met, official eartags used in animal disease programs could only be issued, going forward, to registered premises that have PINs. In sections of the regulations that apply to sheep and goats, e.g., in § 79.1, the proposed definition would also indicate that official eartags for those species would have to be approved by APHIS for use in accordance with the scrapie regulations. Official eartags used on sheep and goats in the National Scrapie Eradication Program (NSEP) would have to be correlated with the PINs of the owner's premises and, where applicable, a flock identification number (FIN) in the National Scrapie Database. Correlating eartags with PINs would aid in tracing animals back to their farms of origin in the event of disease outbreaks.
Our proposed definition of official eartag would also require that when AIN eartags are used, the AINs would have to be correlated with the PINs of the premises to which they are issued, meaning that AIN eartags could only be issued to registered premises that have PINs. AINs would be correlated with PINs using the AINMS, which we would define in §§ 71.1, 77.2, 79.1, and 80.1 as a Web-based system maintained by APHIS to keep records of authorized AIN devices, the allocation of AINs to authorized manufacturers of AIN devices, the distribution of AIN devices to premises, and the termination of AIN tags. The definition would further state that the system could also be used to track the disposition of other official identification devices. (Further information regarding the AINMS can be found at http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/​nais/​animal_​id/​ain_​mngt_​sys.shtml.) AINs used on official eartags attached to sheep and goats in the NSEP would also have to be correlated with PINs and, where applicable, FINs in the National Scrapie Database.
Additionally, in § 79.1, the proposed definition of official eartag would codify two identification numbering systems that are currently being used in the NSEP but that are not defined in the existing regulations. The change would recognize the current practice of employing the FIN, which is discussed in greater detail below, on official eartags for sheep and goats if used in conjunction with a producer's livestock production numbering system to provide a unique identification number. The proposed definition of official eartag in § 79.1 would also recognize a unique eight-character number, already in use in the NSEP, composed of the State postal abbreviation followed by two letters and four numbers for use on official eartags for sheep and goats. With either of these numbering systems, the letters “I,” “O,” or “Q” could only be used in the State postal abbreviation due to the possibility that they could be confused with the numbers “0” or “1.”
At this time, the NSEP furnishes eartags to sheep and goat producers that bear a numbering system that is somewhat similar to the premises-based numbering system (a PIN combined with the producer's livestock production numbering system) discussed above. In lieu of a PIN, however, these eartags are imprinted with a unique FIN. This number, unlike the PIN, represents an animal group that is associated with one or more locations rather than a designator for a location. The FIN serves the sheep and goat industries well in their disease control and eradication efforts. The existing regulations, however, while allowing for the use of the FIN on eartags for sheep and goats in the NSEP, do not define the term as they do other types of identification numbers, such as the AIN and the PIN. Therefore, to codify current practices and help ensure uniformity and consistency in the use of flock identification numbering, we are proposing to add a definition of flock identification number (FIN) to the general requirements for interstate movement in 9 CFR part 71, to the scrapie-related requirements in part 79, and to the Johne's disease requirements in part 80. Specifically, in §§ 71.1, 79.1, and 80.1, we would define flock identification number (FIN) as a nationally unique number assigned by a State or Federal animal health authority to a group of animals that are managed as a unit on one or more premises and are under the same ownership. The definition would state that the FIN must begin with the State postal abbreviation, must have no more than nine alphanumeric characters, and must not contain the characters “I”,”O”, or “Q” other than as part of the State postal abbreviation. As noted earlier, the restriction on the use of those letters is intended to prevent errors that could result from confusing them with the numbers “0” and “1.” The proposed definition would further note that FINs would be linked in the National Scrapie Database to one or more PINs and could be used in conjunction with an animal number unique within the flock to provide a distinctive official identification number for an animal, or could be used in conjunction with the date and a sequence number to provide a GIN for a group of animals when group identification is allowed. As noted above, we would also amend the definition of official eartag in §§ 71.1, 79.1, and 80.1 so that it would include the FIN on the list of numbering systems that may be used on official eartags, thereby codifying the existing practice.
The definition of official eartag in §§ 71.1, 77.2, 78.1, 79.1, and 80.1 currently recognizes the National Uniform Eartagging System as a means of identifying individual animals in commerce. The system has been in use for many years, but the existing regulations do not define the term or specify a particular format. To codify existing practices, thereby helping to ensure greater standardization and uniformity in the use of this numbering system, we are proposing to add a Start Printed Page 1637definition of National Uniform Eartagging System to the sections cited above, with the exception of § 79.1, since that numbering system is not used in the NSEP. (The definition of official eartag in § 79.1 would be amended to remove the option of using the National Uniform Eartagging System in the NSEP.) We would define National Uniform Eartagging System as a numbering system for the official identification of individual animals in the United States providing a nationally unique identification number for each animal. An eight- or nine-character alphanumeric format, consisting of a two-number State or territory code, followed by two or three letters and four additional numbers, would be required. (The eight-character format is generally reserved for use in small livestock, such as sheep and goats, though not, as noted above, in the NSEP.) The proposed definition would also note that individual APHIS disease control programs may specify which National Uniform Eartagging System format to use.
Current § 71.22, which was added to the regulations in the November 2004 interim rule, states that official identification devices are intended to provide permanent identification of livestock and to ensure the ability to find the source of animal disease outbreaks and prohibits the intentional removal of such devices except at the time of slaughter.
Current § 71.19(b)(7) states that slaughter swine and feeder swine may be identified by means of an eartag or tattoo bearing a PIN. We are proposing to amend that paragraph to distinguish between the identification required for each type of swine. Tattoos are a less effective means of identifying adult slaughter swine than are eartags because the vast majority of such animals are skinned as part of the preparation of the animal carcass for meat processing. We are therefore proposing to amend § 71.19(b)(7) to require that, after a 1-year phase-in period, when the PIN is used to identify adult slaughter swine, the swine would have to be identified by an APHIS-approved eartag bearing the U.S. shield. The identification requirements for feeder swine would not change, however, since tattooing has proved to be a very reliable method of identification for those animals.
The current regulations recognize two forms of PINs for the official Start Printed Page 1638identification of premises where livestock or poultry are housed. One consists of a postal code prefix of the State in which the premises is located, followed by a number assigned to the premises by a State animal health official. A second, more recent format utilizes a seven-character alphanumeric code that was developed through discussions with industry and producer representatives. At this time, more than 480,000 PINs using the 7-character alphanumeric format have been issued, while the older format is being phased out. The use of a single numbering system to identify premises is essential in enhancing and contributing to the effectiveness of USDA's disease-tracing and emergency response capabilities. Therefore, we are proposing to require that all PINs issued on or after the effective date of this rule use the newer seven-character alphanumeric format. This action is not expected to have a significant economic effect on producers of livestock or poultry, as it is just a change in program operations, and would require minimal expenditures on the part of producers. For example, some producers who are transitioning from postal-code to seven-character PINs may have to buy additional tattoo digits, depending upon what tattoo digits they already have, but that expense, if any, would be very small. Additionally, as with the standardization of the AINs, there may be minimal costs associated with the transition away from the postal-code eartags for those producers who use a premises-based numbering system to identify their animals.
The proposed rule may have an effect on manufacturers of animal eartags. The U.S. Small Business Administration's (SBA's) small-entity size standard for North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code 326199, which comprises plastic product manufacturers not otherwise identified by NAICS code, is 500 or fewer employees.[2] According to the 2002 Economic Census, there were 7,892 establishments in this category engaged in the manufacturing of plastic products, with over 492,000 paid employees.[3] Of these 7,892 establishments, we know neither the number of operations engaged in the manufacture of plastic eartags, nor the size of these operations as it pertains to SBA size standards.
In addition, there could be some indirect effects on producers of livestock in the event that any potential costs to the manufacturers of eartags are passed on to producers in the form of higher eartag prices. In 2006, there were a total of 971,400 cattle operations, 65,540 hog and pig operations, and 69,090 sheep and lamb operations.[4] The overwhelming majority of these operations would be considered small entities according to SBA standards.[5]
2. Section 71.1 is amended by revising the definitions of animal identification number (AIN), official eartag, official identification device or method, and premises identification number (PIN) and adding definitions of Animal Identification Number Management System (AINMS), flock identification number (FIN), and National Uniform Eartagging System in alphabetical order to read as follows:
Official eartag. An identification tag approved by APHIS to provide unique identification for individual animals. Beginning [Insert date 1 year after effective date of final rule], all official eartags applied to animals must bear the U.S. shield. The design, size, shape, color, and other characteristics of the official eartag will depend on the needs of the users, subject to the approval of the Administrator. The official eartag must be tamper-resistant and have a high retention rate in the animal. A record of all official eartags issued or distributed to premises in conjunction with a Federal disease program must be maintained by the State where the premises to which they are issued are located. The record must adequately correlate each official eartag number with the premises identification number (PIN) to which it is issued or distributed. Such correlation must be done using the Animal Identification Number Management System (AINMS) or other recordkeeping systems approved by the Administrator. Specific requirements for the distribution of official eartags bearing the Animal identification number (AIN) are provided in paragraph (2) below. Official eartags for sheep and goats must be approved for use in the scrapie program in accordance with § 79.2(f) of this subchapter. Numbers applied to official eartags must adhere to one of the following numbering systems:
Premises identification number (PIN). A nationally unique number assigned by Start Printed Page 1640a State, Tribal, and/or Federal animal health authority to a premises that is, in the judgment of the State, Tribal, and/or Federal animal health authority, a geographically distinct location from other premises. The premises identification number is associated with an address, geospatial coordinates, and/or location descriptors which provide a verifiably unique location. The premises identification number may be used in conjunction with a producer's own livestock production numbering system to provide a unique identification number for an animal. It may also be used as a component of a group/lot identification number. Premises identification numbers issued on or after [Insert effective date of final rule] shall consist of a seven character alphanumeric code, with the right-most character being a check digit. The check digit number is based upon the ISO 7064 Mod 36/37 check digit algorithm.
3. In § 71.19, paragraph (b)(7) is revised to read as follows:
Premises identification number (PIN). A nationally unique number assigned by a State, Tribal, and/or Federal animal health authority to a premises that is, in the judgment of the State, Tribal, and/or Federal animal health authority, a geographically distinct location from other premises. The premises identification number is associated with Start Printed Page 1641an address, geospatial coordinates, and/or location descriptors which provide a verifiably unique location. The premises identification number may be used in conjunction with a producer's own livestock production numbering system to provide a unique identification number for an animal. It may also be used as a component of a group/lot identification number. Premises identification numbers issued on or after [Insert effective date of final rule] shall consist of a seven-character alphanumeric code, with the right-most character being a check digit. The check digit number is based upon the ISO 7064 Mod 36/37 check digit algorithm.
(3) Premises-based number system. The premises-based number system combines an official premises identification number (PIN), as defined in § 71.1 of this chapter, with a producer's livestock production numbering system to provide a unique identification number. The PIN and the production number must both appear on the official tag. Official eartags using a premises-based numbering system that are issued on or after [Insert date 1 year after effective date of final rule] must employ the seven-character alphanumeric PIN format.
Flock identification number (FIN). A nationally unique number assigned by a State or Federal animal health authority to a group of animals that are managed as a unit on one or more premises and Start Printed Page 1642are under the same ownership. The FIN must begin with the State postal abbreviation, must have no more than nine alphanumeric characters, and must not contain the letters “I,” “O,” or “Q” other than as part of the State postal abbreviation. FINs will be linked in the National Scrapie Database to one or more premises identification numbers and may be used in conjunction with an animal number unique within the flock to provide a unique official identification number for an animal, or may be used in conjunction with the date and a sequence number to provide a group/lot identification number for a group of animals when group identification is permitted.
Official eartag. An identification tag approved for use on sheep and/or goats by APHIS in accordance with § 79.2(f). Beginning [Insert date 1 year after effective date of final rule], all official eartags applied to animals must bear the U.S. shield. The design, size, shape, color, and other characteristics of the official eartag will depend on the needs of the users, subject to the approval of the Administrator. The official eartag must be tamper-resistant and have a high retention rate in the animal. Numbers to be applied to official eartags for sheep and goats must be correlated with the corresponding premises identification number and, where applicable, flock identification number in the National Scrapie Database. The numbers must adhere to one of the following numbering systems:
Flock identification number (FIN). A nationally unique number assigned by a State or Federal animal health authority to a group of animals that are managed as a unit on one or more premises and are under the same ownership. The FIN must begin with the State postal abbreviation, must have no more than nine alphanumeric characters, and must not contain the letters “I,” “O,” or “Q” other than as part of the State postal abbreviation. FINs will be linked in the National Scrapie Database to one or more premises identification numbers Start Printed Page 1643and may be used in conjunction with an animal number unique within the flock to provide a unique official identification number for an animal, or may be used in conjunction with the date and a sequence number to provide a group/lot identification number for a group of animals when group identification is permitted.
Official eartag. An identification tag approved by APHIS to provide unique identification for individual animals. Beginning [Insert date 1 year after effective date of final rule], all official eartags applied to animals must bear the U.S. shield. The design, size, shape, color, and other characteristics of the official eartag will depend on the needs of the users, subject to the approval of the Administrator. The official eartag must be tamper-resistant and have a high retention rate in the animal. All official eartags used in Federal disease programs must be correlated with the premises identification number of the premises to which they are issued using the Animal Identification Number Management System (AINMS) or other recordkeeping systems approved by the Administrator. Official eartags for sheep and goats must be approved for use in the National Scrapie Eradication Program in accordance with § 79.2(f) of this subchapter. Numbers applied to official eartags must adhere to one of the following numbering systems: