06. How did this effort start?

Maintaining the health of the U.S. livestock industry is the focus of industry and government groups addressing national animal identification.  Over 30 industry organizations participated in the National Identification Task Force in 2002, helping prepare the National Identification Work Plan (NIWP). 

The Task Force established a goal to have the capability to locate all premises with direct contact to foreign animal disease within 48 hours after discovery.  In early 2003, the USDA established the U.S. Animal Identification Steering Committee and Development Team to complete the NIWP.  The results of the ID Development Team, the U.S. Animal Identification Plan (USAIP), were presented at the United States Animal Health Association Meeting in October 2003.