Animal disease traceability system getting an upgrade

 

Last updated 5/28/2015 at 11:56am



Senator Judy Warnick’s legislation, Senate Bill 5733, was signed by Governor Jay Inslee recently during a formal ceremony. The new law allows for increased flexibility for the cattle industry by implementing an electronic livestock transaction system.

“This legislation provides more flexibility for dairies and modernizes the way the state manages animal disease traceability programs,” said Warnick, R-Moses Lake. “This gives people an option to utilize an electronic system that provides accurate and timely information about cattle transactions. The law is about increasing efficiency, using technology for better outcomes and food supply safety.”

The legislation allows licensees to electronically report cattle transactions as an alternative to mandatory cattle inspection requirements currently in place. The new law also requires the state’s Department of Agriculture to provide annual reports to the Legislature on the implementation of the new program.


Jay Gordon of the Washington State Dairy Federation offered, “A big thank to Senator Warnick and Representative (Tom) Dent (R- Moses Lake) on their leadership on this bill. The bill is one more step to improving our ability to help protect our farms and rural economies from serious contagious foreign animal diseases.”

The law is a result of cooperation between lawmakers, industry leaders and state agencies to improve and modernize reporting of animal disease traceability.

“This bill is important for the safety of the public and the growth of our economy” said Dent, “I’ve been a passionate advocate for having an effective and accurate system in place to track infected cattle, so I’m glad to see Senate Bill 5733 signed into law.”


“The Washington Cattlemen’s Association appreciates the leadership and support that the 13th District team of Senator Warnick and Representative Dent displayed to help the cattle industry work Senate Bill 5733 through the legislative process. Animal disease traceability is critically important to both the Beef and Dairy industries here in Washington and throughout the Country. This law will help provide a meaningful tool in traceability”, said Jack Field, Executive Vice President of the Washington Cattlemen’s Association. “The teamwork and support from Senator Warnick and Representative Dent will help drive the cattle industry into the future.”

 

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