The Confusing Tale of Two Food Safety Policies

Last month we reviewed resistance to the National Animal Identification Scheme (NAIS) and discussed why we think this six year-old USDA policy initiative to reduce the catastrophic effects to the livestock and meat industry from a major animal disease outbreak has received so much negative reaction from so many and now seems stalled. Since writing that column, another policy initiative (U.S. House bill HR2749) breezed through the House and passed on the final day before the August recess, less than two months after introduction, and now goes to the Senate. HR2749 passed with little debate, reasonably strong bi-partisan support by today’s standards and very strong support from major food-growing Congressional districts. This month we want to explore the apparent anomaly between reaction to NAIS and HR2749, and examine the technological implications of the HR2749 legislation.

Read Full Article