The USDA is holding limited meetings about their new version of NAIS. If you are able to attend please do so. Here is the Agenda:
Preliminary Agenda
Animal Disease Traceability
Public Industry Forum
June 24 & July 1, 2010
8:00am- 4:00pm
Locations: Salt Lake City, Utah and Fort Worth, Texas
Meeting Purpose
To allow the industry to provide input to APHIS and the Regulatory Working Group on the animal disease traceability framework, including the traceability regulation and traceability performance standards being developed.
Meeting Objectives
1. Review and clarify the new framework
2. Discuss approaches to performance based regulations
3. Deliberate performance standard concepts developed by the Regulatory Working Group
Morning (Registration, 7:00-8:00am)
Morning (Meeting
will start at 8:00am) Welcome and Opening Remarks Meeting Moderator
APHIS Official
Regulatory Working Group Representative
Presentations,
Animal Disease Traceability Framework
Description: Share the new components and concepts of the traceability framework with Industry and the general public.
Report of the Regulatory Working Group
Description: Provide a summary of their discussion and thought processes regarding the new traceability framework and proposed rule being considered.
Mid-morning-Early
Afternoon
Small Group Sessions
Description: Meeting participants will be asked to share suggestions for solutions on current discussion of concepts and conceptual ideas. Discussion of small group may be shared with the larger group. Questions will be asked around the following topics:
- Feedback on preliminary traceability performance standards
- Consequences for States and Tribes not complying with performance standards
Moderated Questions and Answers, APHIS Official
Final Comments and Thoughts, APHIS Official
Adjourn
Public Meetings
USDA is hosting public meetings to discuss animal disease traceability. Public meetings will take place from 8:00 AM-4:00 PM local time, with registration beginning at 7:00 AM.
Thursday, June 24
Sheraton Salt Lake City Hotel
150 West 500 South
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Thursday, July 1
Holiday Inn DFW Airport South
14320 Center Station Drive
Ft. Worth, TX 76155
Additional meetings will be scheduled in the coming weeks. If you have any questsion or comments regarding the meetings, please contact us at traceability@aphis.usda.gov
Based on the above agenda it looks like they are very tightly controlling the situation and not looking for actual public or small farmer feedback.