Texas Says It Will Wait A Year To Start Animal ID Project

TEXAS - The Texas Animal Health Commission on Tuesday announced it would wait until next year to develop mandatory premises registration regulations for places that livestock and fowl are held, handled or managed.

The commission had planned to discuss proposals at its May 4 meeting, a release from the commission stated. The earliest the commission will revisit the issue is early next year, the release states.

The proposal is part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's plan to tag animals so they can be tracked to prevent the rapid spread of disease. The plan, called the National Animal Identification System, would enable animal health officials to trace the movement of diseased or exposed livestock or poultry within 48 hours.

In February, the commission met with opposition from one of its members and animal owners for a plan that would have required livestock owners to pay a $20 registration fee every two years beginning July 1, with penalties including a fine up to $1,000 for noncompliance. People who own only one animal - including a chicken, a horse, a cow, a goat or a pig - would be required to register.

Source: San Marcos Daily Record

6 April 2006