National Animal Identification System (NAIS); Administration of Official Identification Devices With the Animal Identification Number, 10951-10952 [E6-3036]
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Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 42 / Friday, March 3, 2006 / Notices
Summary of Collection: The United
States Department of Agriculture
(USDA), Cooperative State Research,
Education, and Extension Service
(CSREES) administers several
competitive, peer-reviewed research and
extension programs, under which
awards of a high-priority nature are
made. These programs are authorized
pursuant to the authorities contained in
the National Agricultural Research,
Extension, and Teaching Policy Act of
1977, as amended (7 U.S.C. 3101), the
Smith-Lever Act, and a variety of other
legislative authorities. Before awards
can be awarded, certain information is
required from applicants as part of an
overall package. Because the proposals
submitted are competitive in nature and
necessitate review by peer panelists, it
is particularly important that applicants
provide the information in a
standardized fashion to ensure equitable
treatment for all. CSREES will collect
information using several forms.
Need and Use of the Information: The
fundamental purpose of the information
requested is for USDA proposal
evaluation, award, management,
reporting, and recordkeeping, as part of
the overall administration of the
research, education, and extension
programs administered by CSREES.
CSREES will collect the following
information: Program Summary and
Narrative, Credentials, Budget,
Identification of Conflicts of Interest,
and Collect of Environmental Impact
Information. The information will be
used to respond to inquiries from
Congress, other governmental agencies,
and the grantee community.
Description of Respondents: Not-forprofit institutions; Business or other forprofit; Individuals or household;
Federal Government; State, local or
tribal government.
Number of Respondents: 9,450.
Frequency of Responses: Reporting:
On occasion.
Total Burden Hours: 53,776.
Ruth Brown,
Departmental Information Collection
Clearance Officer.
[FR Doc. E6–3047 Filed 3–2–06; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection
Service
[Docket No. APHIS–2005–0117]
National Animal Identification System
(NAIS); Administration of Official
Identification Devices With the Animal
Identification Number
Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: This notice makes available a
document describing how an animal
identification number (AIN) may be
used in conjunction with official
identification devices in the National
Animal Identification System (NAIS).
The document includes performance
and printing requirements for visual
identification tags with AINs and
provides an explanation of the process
by which these AIN tags will be
authorized for use in the NAIS.
Performance standards for radio
frequency identification tags or devices
that may be used on cattle or bison to
supplement visual AIN tags are also
presented. Finally, the document
describes the AIN Management System,
a Web-based system for distributing and
administering AINs in the NAIS, and
discusses the roles and responsibilities
of key participants in the system.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr.
Neil Hammerschmidt, NAIS
Coordinator, Eradication and
Surveillance Team, National Center for
Animal Health Programs, VS, APHIS,
4700 River Road Unit 200, Riverdale,
MD 20737–1231; (301) 734–5571.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
As part of ongoing efforts to safeguard
animal health, the U.S. Department of
Agriculture (USDA) initiated
implementation of the National Animal
Identification System (NAIS) in 2004.
The NAIS is a cooperative State-Federalindustry program administered by
USDA’s Animal and Plant Health
Inspection Service (APHIS). Its longterm goal is to track all animal
movements, from birth to harvest, as
part of USDA’s National Animal Health
Monitoring and Surveillance Program.
In order to facilitate the
implementation of the NAIS, on
November 8, 2004, we published in the
Federal Register (69 FR 64644–64651,
Docket No. 04–052–1) an interim rule
that, among other things, amended the
regulations to recognize additional
numbering systems for the identification
of animals in interstate commerce and
PO 00000
Frm 00002
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
10951
State/Federal/industry cooperative
disease control and eradication
programs and to redefine the numbering
system used to identify premises where
animals are managed or held.
Specifically, the interim rule recognized
the animal identification number (AIN)
as an official numbering system for the
identification of individual animals, the
group/lot identification number (GIN)
for the identification of groups or lots of
animals within the same production
system, and the seven-character
premises identification number (PIN) for
the identification of premises in the
NAIS. Use of the new numbering
systems was not, however, required as
a result of the interim rule. Finally, the
interim rule amended the regulations to
prohibit the removal of official
identification devices and to eliminate
potential regulatory obstacles to the
recognition of emerging technologies
that could offer viable alternatives to
existing animal identification devices
and methods.
In May 2005, we made available for
public review and comment a Draft
Strategic Plan and a Draft Program
Standards document (70 FR 29269–
29270, Docket No. 05–015–2, May 20,
2005). The Draft Strategic Plan
described the process of developing the
NAIS, in particular the timeline for full
implementation, while the Draft
Program Standards document presented
our view of how the system would work
when fully implemented.
The current document, entitled
‘‘Administration of Official
Identification Devices with the Animal
Identification Number,’’ expands upon
certain aspects of the NAIS that were
presented in the Draft Program
Standards. Specifically, we describe the
use of the AIN in conjunction with
official identification devices in the
NAIS; present performance and printing
requirements for visual AIN tags and
explain the process by which these tags
will be authorized for use in the NAIS;
and provide performance standards for
radio frequency identification (RFID)
tags or devices that may be attached to
cattle or bison to supplement visual AIN
tags. We also describe the AIN
Management System, a Web-based
system for distributing and
administering AINs in the NAIS, and
discuss the roles and responsibilities of
key participants in the system.
For producers who choose to
participate in the NAIS, tags (generally
eartags) imprinted with AINs will be an
option for use with certain species, such
as cattle, when visual, unique,
individual official animal identification
is necessary. These AIN tags will have
to satisfy the requirements currently
E:\FR\FM\03MRN1.SGM
03MRN1
wwhite on PROD1PC61 with NOTICES
10952
Federal Register / Vol. 71, No. 42 / Friday, March 3, 2006 / Notices
contained in the Code of Federal
Regulations (CFR) for tags used for the
identification of animals. For example,
eartags imprinted with AINs will have
to meet the criteria for recognition as
official eartags in 9 CFR 71.1, including
requirements that the eartags be tamper
resistant and have a high retention rate
in the animal. The document that we are
now making available contains
additional standards for AIN tag
security (the tags must be tamper
evident, i.e., impossible to remove and
reapply without visual evidence of
tampering), durability, readability, and
printing characteristics.
The document also describes the
process by which APHIS will authorize
AIN tags for use in the NAIS. During the
initial, voluntary phase of the NAIS,
AIN tags that meet USDA standards for
AIN tags will qualify for ‘‘USDA
Approval Pending’’ status. When the
NAIS becomes fully operational, more
complete testing and evaluation
procedures and an approval process for
official identification devices will be
available. At such time, a designation of
‘‘USDA Approved’’ will be established.
APHIS will reserve the right to evaluate
identification devices independently,
using resources within the Agency or
through contractual services with
universities or private research firms, to
verify compliance with tag
specifications, either before or following
issuance of USDA Approval Pending or
USDA Approved status. Official
identification devices may lose their
USDA Approval Pending or USDA
Approved status at any time if APHIS
determines that the devices are
substandard.
In addition to the visual AIN tags
described above, which will be the
official identifiers in the NAIS for
certain species, producers may elect to
incorporate supplemental identification
methods or technologies. These
supplemental technologies or methods
may vary among species.
Cattle are a priority in the initial
rollout of the NAIS. RFID devices
appear, at this point, to be the preferred
technology among cattle producers for
use as a supplemental identification
method. The document that we are now
making available to the public contains
standards for RFID AIN tags. These
standards cover ISO compliance,
electronic read rates and ranges,
expected tag life, transponder security,
and transponder failure rates.
As noted in the NAIS Draft Program
Standards document, a key component
of the NAIS is the AIN Management
System. The AIN Management System is
a Web-based system for distributing and
administering AINs in the NAIS. Under
VerDate Aug<31>2005
16:43 Mar 02, 2006
Jkt 208001
the AIN Management System, AINs are
allocated to companies that manufacture
official identification devices or
technologies. Other individuals and
organizations may perform such roles as
distributing these devices and
technologies to producers, educating
producers on their use, and maintaining
records of AIN allocations.
The current document offers a more
comprehensive description of the AIN
Management System than did the Draft
Program Standards, focusing, in
particular, on the roles and
responsibilities of key participants in
the system. These key participants will
include AIN tag manufacturers, AIN tag
managers, and AIN tag resellers.
AIN tag manufacturers are companies
that will be authorized by APHIS to
manufacture approved identification
devices. In order to be recognized as an
AIN tag manufacturer, a company will
have to enter into an AIN tag
manufacturer agreement with APHIS
and a marketing agreement with one or
more tag managers and complete a
training program provided by APHIS.
AIN tag manufacturers will be
responsible for the overall production
and quality of AIN tags. They may only
produce AIN tags with the AINs that
have been allocated to them by APHIS
and will have to maintain records of the
tags that they distribute. AIN tag
manufacturers may also be AIN tag
managers.
AIN tag managers are individuals,
organizations, or companies that will
provide AIN tags to other AIN tag
managers or resellers or directly to
premises. In addition to distributing
AIN tags, other responsibilities of the
AIN tag manager will include validating
the PINs of premises that are to receive
the tags; maintaining records of tags
received from manufacturers and
distributed to premises, other managers,
or resellers; submitting these records to
the AIN Management System; and
educating customers on the proper use
of official identification devices. In
order to be recognized as an AIN tag
manager, the individual or entity will be
required to agree to certain terms and
conditions set forth by APHIS, which
include the completion of a training
program provided by APHIS, and to
enter into a marketing agreement with
an AIN tag manufacturer.
AIN tag resellers will perform the
same functions as AIN tag managers, but
will receive their AIN tags from AIN tag
managers rather than directly from
manufacturers. In order to be recognized
by APHIS as an AIN tag reseller, the
individual or entity will have to enter
into a marketing agreement with an AIN
tag manager and agree to APHIS’ terms
PO 00000
Frm 00003
Fmt 4703
Sfmt 4703
and conditions, which include the
successful completion of a training
program provided by APHIS.
The document regarding the
administration of official identification
devices employing the AIN may be
viewed on the Internet at https://
www.usda.gov/nais or on the
Regulations.gov Web page.1 You may
request paper copies of the document by
calling or writing to the person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT. Please refer to the title of the
document (‘‘Administration of Official
Identification Devices with the Animal
Identification Number’’) when
requesting copies.
Done in Washington, DC, this 27th day of
February 2006.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant
Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E6–3036 Filed 3–2–06; 8:45 am]
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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Forest Service
Information Collection; Request for
Comment; Recreation Fee
Administration
Forest Service, USDA.
Notice.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
SUMMARY: In accordance with the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the
Forest Service is seeking comments
from all interested individuals and
organizations on the extension with
revision of information collection for
the administration of recreation fees on
National Forest System lands. The
information provides for consistent
collection of fees for use of government
facilities and services. Respondents will
include individuals.
DATES: Comments must be received in
writing on or before May 2, 2006 to be
assured of consideration. Comments
received after that date will be
considered to the extent practicable.
ADDRESSES: Comments concerning this
notice should be addressed to Jennifer
Eberlien, Recreation Staff, Mailstop
1125, USDA, Forest Service 1400
Independence Avenue, SW.,
Washington, DC 20250–1125.
Comments also may be submitted via
facsimile to Jennifer Eberlien (202) 205–
1145 or by e-mail to:
1 Go to https://www.regulations.gov, click on the
‘‘Advanced Search’’ tab and select ‘‘Docket Search.’’
In the Docket ID field, enter APHIS–2005–0117 then
click on ‘‘Submit.’’ The document described in this
notice will appear in the resulting list of
documents.
E:\FR\FM\03MRN1.SGM
03MRN1
Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 71, Number 42 (Friday, March 3, 2006)]
[Notices]
[Pages 10951-10952]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E6-3036]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service
[Docket No. APHIS-2005-0117]
National Animal Identification System (NAIS); Administration of
Official Identification Devices With the Animal Identification Number
AGENCY: Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, USDA.
ACTION: Notice of availability.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: This notice makes available a document describing how an
animal identification number (AIN) may be used in conjunction with
official identification devices in the National Animal Identification
System (NAIS). The document includes performance and printing
requirements for visual identification tags with AINs and provides an
explanation of the process by which these AIN tags will be authorized
for use in the NAIS. Performance standards for radio frequency
identification tags or devices that may be used on cattle or bison to
supplement visual AIN tags are also presented. Finally, the document
describes the AIN Management System, a Web-based system for
distributing and administering AINs in the NAIS, and discusses the
roles and responsibilities of key participants in the system.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. Neil Hammerschmidt, NAIS
Coordinator, Eradication and Surveillance Team, National Center for
Animal Health Programs, VS, APHIS, 4700 River Road Unit 200, Riverdale,
MD 20737-1231; (301) 734-5571.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
As part of ongoing efforts to safeguard animal health, the U.S.
Department of Agriculture (USDA) initiated implementation of the
National Animal Identification System (NAIS) in 2004. The NAIS is a
cooperative State-Federal-industry program administered by USDA's
Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). Its long-term goal
is to track all animal movements, from birth to harvest, as part of
USDA's National Animal Health Monitoring and Surveillance Program.
In order to facilitate the implementation of the NAIS, on November
8, 2004, we published in the Federal Register (69 FR 64644-64651,
Docket No. 04-052-1) an interim rule that, among other things, amended
the regulations to recognize additional numbering systems for the
identification of animals in interstate commerce and State/Federal/
industry cooperative disease control and eradication programs and to
redefine the numbering system used to identify premises where animals
are managed or held. Specifically, the interim rule recognized the
animal identification number (AIN) as an official numbering system for
the identification of individual animals, the group/lot identification
number (GIN) for the identification of groups or lots of animals within
the same production system, and the seven-character premises
identification number (PIN) for the identification of premises in the
NAIS. Use of the new numbering systems was not, however, required as a
result of the interim rule. Finally, the interim rule amended the
regulations to prohibit the removal of official identification devices
and to eliminate potential regulatory obstacles to the recognition of
emerging technologies that could offer viable alternatives to existing
animal identification devices and methods.
In May 2005, we made available for public review and comment a
Draft Strategic Plan and a Draft Program Standards document (70 FR
29269-29270, Docket No. 05-015-2, May 20, 2005). The Draft Strategic
Plan described the process of developing the NAIS, in particular the
timeline for full implementation, while the Draft Program Standards
document presented our view of how the system would work when fully
implemented.
The current document, entitled ``Administration of Official
Identification Devices with the Animal Identification Number,'' expands
upon certain aspects of the NAIS that were presented in the Draft
Program Standards. Specifically, we describe the use of the AIN in
conjunction with official identification devices in the NAIS; present
performance and printing requirements for visual AIN tags and explain
the process by which these tags will be authorized for use in the NAIS;
and provide performance standards for radio frequency identification
(RFID) tags or devices that may be attached to cattle or bison to
supplement visual AIN tags. We also describe the AIN Management System,
a Web-based system for distributing and administering AINs in the NAIS,
and discuss the roles and responsibilities of key participants in the
system.
For producers who choose to participate in the NAIS, tags
(generally eartags) imprinted with AINs will be an option for use with
certain species, such as cattle, when visual, unique, individual
official animal identification is necessary. These AIN tags will have
to satisfy the requirements currently
[[Page 10952]]
contained in the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) for tags used for
the identification of animals. For example, eartags imprinted with AINs
will have to meet the criteria for recognition as official eartags in 9
CFR 71.1, including requirements that the eartags be tamper resistant
and have a high retention rate in the animal. The document that we are
now making available contains additional standards for AIN tag security
(the tags must be tamper evident, i.e., impossible to remove and
reapply without visual evidence of tampering), durability, readability,
and printing characteristics.
The document also describes the process by which APHIS will
authorize AIN tags for use in the NAIS. During the initial, voluntary
phase of the NAIS, AIN tags that meet USDA standards for AIN tags will
qualify for ``USDA Approval Pending'' status. When the NAIS becomes
fully operational, more complete testing and evaluation procedures and
an approval process for official identification devices will be
available. At such time, a designation of ``USDA Approved'' will be
established. APHIS will reserve the right to evaluate identification
devices independently, using resources within the Agency or through
contractual services with universities or private research firms, to
verify compliance with tag specifications, either before or following
issuance of USDA Approval Pending or USDA Approved status. Official
identification devices may lose their USDA Approval Pending or USDA
Approved status at any time if APHIS determines that the devices are
substandard.
In addition to the visual AIN tags described above, which will be
the official identifiers in the NAIS for certain species, producers may
elect to incorporate supplemental identification methods or
technologies. These supplemental technologies or methods may vary among
species.
Cattle are a priority in the initial rollout of the NAIS. RFID
devices appear, at this point, to be the preferred technology among
cattle producers for use as a supplemental identification method. The
document that we are now making available to the public contains
standards for RFID AIN tags. These standards cover ISO compliance,
electronic read rates and ranges, expected tag life, transponder
security, and transponder failure rates.
As noted in the NAIS Draft Program Standards document, a key
component of the NAIS is the AIN Management System. The AIN Management
System is a Web-based system for distributing and administering AINs in
the NAIS. Under the AIN Management System, AINs are allocated to
companies that manufacture official identification devices or
technologies. Other individuals and organizations may perform such
roles as distributing these devices and technologies to producers,
educating producers on their use, and maintaining records of AIN
allocations.
The current document offers a more comprehensive description of the
AIN Management System than did the Draft Program Standards, focusing,
in particular, on the roles and responsibilities of key participants in
the system. These key participants will include AIN tag manufacturers,
AIN tag managers, and AIN tag resellers.
AIN tag manufacturers are companies that will be authorized by
APHIS to manufacture approved identification devices. In order to be
recognized as an AIN tag manufacturer, a company will have to enter
into an AIN tag manufacturer agreement with APHIS and a marketing
agreement with one or more tag managers and complete a training program
provided by APHIS. AIN tag manufacturers will be responsible for the
overall production and quality of AIN tags. They may only produce AIN
tags with the AINs that have been allocated to them by APHIS and will
have to maintain records of the tags that they distribute. AIN tag
manufacturers may also be AIN tag managers.
AIN tag managers are individuals, organizations, or companies that
will provide AIN tags to other AIN tag managers or resellers or
directly to premises. In addition to distributing AIN tags, other
responsibilities of the AIN tag manager will include validating the
PINs of premises that are to receive the tags; maintaining records of
tags received from manufacturers and distributed to premises, other
managers, or resellers; submitting these records to the AIN Management
System; and educating customers on the proper use of official
identification devices. In order to be recognized as an AIN tag
manager, the individual or entity will be required to agree to certain
terms and conditions set forth by APHIS, which include the completion
of a training program provided by APHIS, and to enter into a marketing
agreement with an AIN tag manufacturer.
AIN tag resellers will perform the same functions as AIN tag
managers, but will receive their AIN tags from AIN tag managers rather
than directly from manufacturers. In order to be recognized by APHIS as
an AIN tag reseller, the individual or entity will have to enter into a
marketing agreement with an AIN tag manager and agree to APHIS' terms
and conditions, which include the successful completion of a training
program provided by APHIS.
The document regarding the administration of official
identification devices employing the AIN may be viewed on the Internet
at https://www.usda.gov/nais or on the Regulations.gov Web page.\1\ You
may request paper copies of the document by calling or writing to the
person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT. Please refer to
the title of the document (``Administration of Official Identification
Devices with the Animal Identification Number'') when requesting
copies.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Go to https://www.regulations.gov, click on the ``Advanced
Search'' tab and select ``Docket Search.'' In the Docket ID field,
enter APHIS-2005-0117 then click on ``Submit.'' The document
described in this notice will appear in the resulting list of
documents.
Done in Washington, DC, this 27th day of February 2006.
Kevin Shea,
Acting Administrator, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service.
[FR Doc. E6-3036 Filed 3-2-06; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 3410-34-P