Clarification of USDA’s Electronic Identification Rule
Maggie Justice, PhD- University of Arkansas Extension Beef Cattle Specialist
There are still several questions regarding the USDA’s Electronic Identification Rule released last month. The USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) is putting into place tools to better trace disease outbreaks. The final rule announced by APHIS on April 26, 2024 will amend the animal traceability rule enacted in 2013. That rule requires “official identification” on certain cattle and bison moved in interstate shipment for the purpose of animal disease traceability. Under the 2013 rule, “visual” ear tags are a form of official identification, in addition to certain pre-approved brands and tattoos and group lots.
The new final rule, originally proposed in 2022, will expand the requirements for ear tags used as official identification. For animals tagged after the rule’s effective date, the ear tags “must be readable both visually and electronically (EID).” The EID rule will continue to apply ONLY to these types of cattle and bison when shipped across state lines:
· Sexually intact cattle and bison 18 months of age or older
· Dairy cattle
· Cattle and bison of any age used for rodeo or recreation events, shows, or exhibitions.
What Types of ID are approved?
· An official identification ear tag will be required to be both visually and electronically readable.
· Brands, registered with a recognized brand authority and accompanied by an official brand inspection certificate, when agreed to by the shipping and receiving state/Tribal animal health authorities.
· Tattoos and other identification methods acceptable to a breed association for registration purposes, accompanied by the breed registration certificate, when agreed upon by the shipping and receiving state/Tribal animal health authorities.
· Group/lot identification when a group or unit of animals is managed together as one group throughout the pre-harvest production chain.
If your animal has been tagged with a visual only official identification tag prior to the rule’s effective date, you are not required to apply an electronically readable tag to the animal. All visual only official identification tags applied to cattle and bison prior to the date the rule is effective will be considered official identification for the lifetime of the animal.
Effective Date of the rule: The EID requirement is not yet effective. This final rule will take effect on November 5, 2024.
Funding for EID Tags: Before the rule was finalized, Congress approved funding to help producers voluntarily obtain EID tags. The Consolidated Appropriations Act passed in March of 2024 allocated $15 million for EID. Arkansas producers can contact our State Veterinarian’s Office for more information on obtaining tags. The big kicker here is that they will need to assign a premise ID in order to obtain the tags first. Please contact Cindy Taylor (501-823-1709) with the Department of Ag to begin that process.