February 2022
Animal Disease Traceability
OMB 0579-0327
NOTE: Since 2013, VS has been working towards consolidation and streamlining of identification procedures for animals moved interstate. This request for renewal reflects this consolidation of activities and provides more accurate estimates resulting from better processes and recordkeeping.
1. Explain the circumstances that make the collection of information necessary. Identify any legal or administrative requirements that necessitate the collection. Attach a copy of the appropriate section of each statute and regulation mandating or authorizing the collection of information.
The Animal Health Protection Act of 2002 (7 U.S.C. 8301–8317) is the primary Federal law governing the protection of animal health. The law gives the Secretary of Agriculture broad authority to detect, control, or eradicate pests or diseases of livestock or poultry. Disease prevention is the most effective method for maintaining a healthy animal population and for enhancing the United States’ ability to compete in the world market of animal and animal product trade.
The Veterinary Services unit (VS) of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) uses disease control to safeguard U.S. animal health. One important part of disease control is animal disease traceability. Animal disease traceability means being able to document the movement history of an animal throughout its life. Knowing where diseased and at-risk animals have been and are located, as well as when they have been there, is indispensable during an emergency response and important for ongoing disease programs. Epidemiologists use this information to determine the potential for spread of a disease. Having the ability to plot locations within a radius of an infected premises helps determine the potential magnitude of a contagious disease and the resources needed to contain it.
Furthermore, as diseases are controlled or eradicated, it is important to document areas, States, or regions of the country that are free from disease. Traceability helps us determine those disease-free zones, thus enhancing the marketability of livestock.
APHIS has established general traceability regulations for livestock moving interstate at title 9, Code of Federal Regulations (9 CFR) part 86. Under the regulations, unless specifically exempted, livestock moved interstate would have to be officially identified and accompanied by an interstate certificate of veterinary inspection or other documentation. The regulations specify approved forms of official identification for each species but allow livestock to be moved between any two States or Tribes with another form of identification as agreed on by animal health officials in the two jurisdictions. This improves APHIS’ ability to trace livestock if disease is found.
The regulations place the greatest information collection burden on the cattle industry because that sector has had the greatest gaps in traceability and the greatest need for traceability standards. Previous disease regulations for the sheep and goat, swine, and poultry sectors provide adequate traceability and the burden associated with those disease programs is contained in information collections related to those programs. Animal disease traceability burden items, outlined further below, let the traceability program remain essential in helping animal health officials protect U.S. livestock and poultry from disease spread and retaining access to domestic and foreign markets via timely response to disease outbreaks.
Timely response to disease outbreaks will:
Slow disease spread and reduce associated economic impact.
Lessen disruption to producers and animal owners.
Speed lifting of quarantine and movement restrictions.
Lessen the likelihood of animal depopulation.
Increase consumer confidence.
The ADT framework focuses on interstate movements, with States and Tribes determining requirements for those movements. The basic data APHIS acquires through the ADT system helps achieve timely animal movement tracebacks and trace forwards when responding to an animal disease concern.
The Information System and Cooperative Agreements information has been integrated into the relevant parts of questions 2 and 3.
APHIS is asking OMB to approve, for an additional 3 years, its use of this information collection activity to facilitate animal disease traceability and support disease control, eradication, and surveillance activities.
2. Indicate how, by whom, how frequently, and for what purpose the information is to be used. Except for a new collection, indicate the actual use the agency has made of the information received from the current collection.
APHIS uses the following information collection activities to facilitate Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) and support disease control, eradication, and surveillance activities. Within the ADT framework, official animal identification devices give a nationally unique identification number for livestock animals that require official identification. The distribution and use of official identification devices require some information collection activities.
APHIS also regulates and approves manufacturer devices as official animal identification and allows these devices to have the U.S. shield imprinted on them. The activities and approval processes are documented in the ADT General Standards Document. In addition, APHIS requires documentation of interstate movements of covered classes of livestock. This is predominately in the form of Interstate Certificates of Veterinary Inspection (ICVI). Other forms of interstate movement documentation can also be used in certain circumstances.
Official ID Device Distribution Records; (9 CFR 86.4; 9 CFR 86.3; ADT General Standards); (State/Tribal Governments; Business); (New Activity Name)
This new activity name includes 8 previously titled activities:
Obtaining Official Eartags for Cattle not Currently ID’d (States/Business)
Official Identification Device Distribution Records (States/Business)
Eartag Orders (States/Business)
Coordination of Tag Orders with Manufacturer and Recordkeeping (States/Business)
Record of Tags Applied and Recordkeeping (States/Business)
DHIA Eartag Distribution Plan (States/Business)
DHIA Tag Application Record (Business)
Tribal Tag Distribution (Tribal)
Entities that distribute official ID devices must keep a record of devices issued to ensure accountability in the distribution system, and to ensure that APHIS has the traceability information needed for disease control, eradication, and surveillance efforts. The record may be electronic or paper-based depending on the volume of devices and the needs of the State or Tribe. Distributors (States, Tribes, territories, private businesses, or organizations) must collect sufficient information about where official devices are distributed to meet traceability needs. The distributors do this because they must collect a Premises Identification Number (PIN) or a State generated Location Identifier (LID) for Animal Identification Number (AIN or “840 devices”) devices. For National Uniform Eartagging System (NUES) devices, a PIN or LID can be collected; or at a minimum, the record must include:
The name of the person receiving the devices.
The street address, city, State, and ZIP code where the devices are distributed.
The identification numbers on the devices issued.
The date the devices were issued.
The name and contact information of the person issuing the devices.
Administration of Official ID Devices; (9 CFR 86.4; ADT General Standards); (State/Tribal Governments; Business); (New Activity Name)
This new activity name includes 7 previously titled activities:
Unauthorized Removal or Loss of Official Identification Devices (States/Business)
Record of Tags Issued and Applied/Recordkeeping (States/Business)
Reporting Loss, Theft, or Misuse of NUES Tag (States/Business)
Removal or Replacement of Eartag (States/Businesses)
Informing VS of Tag Orders (States/Business)
Location Identification System Implementation Request (States)
The regulations at 9 CFR part 86 require APHIS to collect information for certain circumstances in administering official ID. These circumstances include:
Situations where more than one official ID device is needed to maintain the identity of the animal (during export, while the animal is in quarantine, etc.).
Replacement of an official ID device for reasons other than loss (device failure, device application site infection, etc.). In this case, the record must include the date of removal, the address and phone number of the location where the device was removed, the number and device type removed, and the type of replacement tag.
Sale or transfer of official ID devices.
In each of these cases, a State or Tribal animal health official or an APHIS Area Veterinarian in Charge (AVIC) may authorize application of a new device if sufficient records (as listed above under device application records) are maintained for 5 years.
Approval of Official ID Devices; (9 CFR 86.3, 86.4); ADT General Standards); (State/Tribal Governments; Business); (New Activity Name)
This new activity name includes 4 previously titled activities:
Official ID Device Applications and Approved ID Device Manufacturer Agreements (Business)
AIN Device Manufacturer Updates (Business)
AIN Device Managers Registration and Agreement (Business)
AIN Device Managers Updates (Business)
Manufacturers seeking approval of a new device or modification of an existing approved official identification device will need to follow the process outlined below:
Perform required International Committee for Animal Recording (ICAR) conformance and performance testing.
Submit initial device application including, results of ICAR testing and certification, device approval and sales data from other countries or proposed field trial protocol for APHIS approval, sample devices, and device applicator to APHIS.
After receiving APHIS approval produce devices for field trial according to the specifications provided in the Animal Disease Traceability General Standards.
Premises ID Registration; (9 CFR 86.2); (Business); (New Activity Name)
This new activity name includes 3 previously titled activities:
Premises Identification (Business)
Updates to Premises ID Records (Business)
Nonproducer Participant Registration (Business)
APHIS supplies a system to register and manage Premises ID Numbers (PIN) that is available to States and Tribes. This system provides a unique identifying number associated with a specific geographic location. This number can then be used to acquire official animal identification devices, to use on movement documentation, or for other testing and vaccination as required in other parts of 9 CFR.
Official Identification Device Application (VS Form 1-64), previously titled Official Identification Device Applications and Approved Identification Device Manufacturer Agreements; (9 CFR 86.4); (State/Tribal Governments; Business)
State and Tribal animal health officials and accredited veterinarians using the devices for official disease program work or for interstate transport must record sufficient contact information about where official ID devices are applied (not just the person to whom they are issued) to meet the traceability needs of the State, Tribe, or territory. Producers will not be required to record or report the application of tags to animals on their livestock operation. This can be done by recording the PIN or LID of the location that the devices are distributed to. Otherwise, at a minimum, the record must include:
The name of the owner of the livestock operation where the devices are applied.
The street address, city, State, and ZIP code where the devices are applied.
The identification numbers of the devices that are applied.
The date the devices were applied.
The name and contact information of the person applying the devices.
Application for and Approval of an Approved Tagging Site, previously titled Application/Approval of an Approved Tagging Site; (9 CFR 86.1); (State/Tribal Governments; Business)
This activity includes 3 actions: Application for Approval of a Device, APHIS Review of Approval, and the Approval of a Tagging Site.
Application for Approval of a Device
APHIS approves official ID devices as set forth in the ADT General Standards Document (using VS Form 1-64, the Manufacturer Application for Approval of Official Animal Identification Devices). Manufacturers seeking APHIS approval of an identification device must document that they have successfully tested, produced, and marketed the identification device submitted for approval with favorable results. Such documentation must show at a minimum that the device has been either:
Approved for a national identification program in at least one other country with comparable or more stringent requirements than the performance criteria outlined in these standards (APHIS will review the approval documentation and sales data provided to determine equivalency); or
Tested in field trials in accordance with the protocol outlined in the General Standards, Appendix 1. The device must also meet the criteria for conformance and performance listed in General Standards Appendix 2. The manufacturer must document how the criteria have been met in the device field test report presented with the application for approval.
APHIS may consider requests for approval of alternative field testing or previously generated data. Alternative field testing must provide verifiable data and demonstrate that the outcome conclusions are at minimum equivalent to the field trial protocols and standards set forth in the General Standards. Requests will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
APHIS Review for Approval
APHIS will notify the applicant in writing of the approval review outcome within 4 weeks of receiving the completed application and field trial summary report. APHIS reserves the right to assess field trial results, including those that do not fully conform to the General Standards, and approve or disapprove trial devices based on our assessment of the data provided. Once APHIS fully approves a device, the manufacturer needs to enter into an APHIS-approved official identification device manufacturer agreement recertifying that it will adhere to the responsibilities regarding the production and distribution of official identification devices for animals to support the implementation of animal disease traceability activities.
APHIS may withdraw approval of any device that fails to meet the performance criteria specified in the General Standards at any time with 30 days’ written notice. Upon termination of approval, the manufacturer will provide APHIS copies of all records regarding the production and distribution of the approved identification device. APHIS will direct the disposition of any formerly approved identification devices in the possession of the manufacturer and resellers on the date of termination.
Approval of a Tagging Site
An approved tagging site is a location, such as a livestock market or other private sale venue, authorized by APHIS, State, or Tribal animal health officials, where livestock may be officially identified on behalf of their owner or the person in possession, care, or control of the animals when they are brought to the tagging site. Such sites give producers a safe and convenient alternative to identifying their animals themselves when they cannot tag animals at their farm or ranch.
The approved tagging site, at a minimum, must:
Obtain official identification devices only as directed by APHIS, State, or Tribal animal health officials.
Unload animals requiring official identification only when the owner or the person in possession, care, or control of the animals when they are brought to the tagging site agrees to have the animals officially identified in accordance with approved tagging site protocols.
Maintain tagging records using forms or electronic systems as directed by APHIS, State, or Tribal animal health officials to include, at a minimum:
The name of the owner or person responsible for the animals tagged and their street address, city, State, and ZIP code.
The official identification numbers of the tags applied associated with the owner or person responsible for the animals.
The date the official identification ear tags were applied.
Submit the records of tags applied in an acceptable electronic format to the designated animal health official as directed by APHIS, State, or Tribal animal health officials within 7 days of application.
Ensure the security of official identification devices and distribution records by:
Maintaining a record of all official identification devices received, distributed, and applied at the tagging site.
Keeping the inventory of tags and records in a secure place accessible only to tagging site personnel.
Reporting any tags lost or stolen immediately to the appropriate State, Tribal, or Federal animal health official.
Tag all animals in accordance with 9 CFR part 86:
Tag all animals required to be identified.
Only tag animals not already officially identified. Do not apply additional official ear tags except as provided in 9 CFR 86.4(c).
Remove and/or replace official identification devices in accordance with 9 CFR 86.4(d) and (e).
When animals are moved to an approved tagging site to fulfill the official identification requirements, the interstate certificate of veterinary inspection or other movement document must contain a statement verifying that the official identification devices are to be applied at an approved tagging site along with the name and complete address of the tagging site. States will provide public lists of tagging sites.
Interstate Certificates of Veterinary Inspection and Recordkeeping, previously titled Certificate of Veterinary Inspection and Recordkeeping; (9 CFR 86.5); (State/Tribal Governments; Business)
Currently, all States require ICVIs for covered livestock received from other States (in most cases, but exceptions for some classes or ages of livestock do occur). The ICVI, completed by an accredited veterinarian from information the producer provides, documents that the veterinarian inspected the animals and found them free of reportable diseases. The ICVI must show:
The species of animals covered by the certificate.
The number of animals covered by the certificate.
The purpose for which the animals are to be moved.
The departure address.
The destination address.
The names and addresses of the consignor and the consignee (if different from the departure and destination addresses).
Additionally, unless APHIS’ species-specific ICVI requirements provide an exception, the ICVI must list the official identification number of each animal, or group of animals, moved that must be officially identified. If an alternate form of identification has been agreed on by the sending and receiving States or Tribes, the ICVI must include a record of that identification. A State representative, or an accredited veterinarian, issuing an ICVI must enter all the required information, retain a copy for his or her records, provide a copy to accompany the shipment, and forward a copy of the certificate to the State animal health official in the State of origin within 7 calendar days. The State of origin forwards a copy to the State of destination within 7 calendar days. APHIS has no role in preparing the CVI and does not receive a copy.
States must retain received ICVIs so they can be easily found. The records must be kept for a minimum of 5 years to ensure that information is readily available to facilitate animal disease investigations. Approved livestock facilities must keep records for 2 years (poultry and swine) or 5 years (cattle, bison, sheep, goats, cervids, equines) of the required documentation for interstate movement.
Cooperative Agreement Application (State, Local and Tribal Governments)
APHIS provides Federal support for ADT implementation activities and infrastructure within participating States, Tribes, and territories through cooperative agreements. Cooperative agreement awards require quarterly reporting and Federal oversight of the successful completion of the goals and objectives outlined in the cooperative agreement workplan (a part of the application package).
ADT cooperative agreement funding is provided to advance animal disease traceability. Each participant will be required to evaluate, describe, and identify animal disease traceability risks within State or Tribal boundaries. Workplans will describe how each applicant will reduce those risks and advance animal disease traceability. Because States, Tribes, and territories have made varying progress to date, this approach will allow each applicant the flexibility needed to advance animal disease traceability appropriately for its individual situation.
Cooperative Agreement Quarterly Accomplishment Reports; (CFR 86.2); (State)
States and Tribes give APHIS quarterly accomplishment reports. The reports include accomplishments achieved as defined in their cooperative agreement workplans. States and Tribes also use the reports to acknowledge current tracing capabilities based on APHIS’ current traceability performance measures documents. Statistics relative to interstate movements of livestock are similarly reported.
Cooperative Agreement Road Maps previously titled Animal Disease Traceability (ADT) Road Map; (CFR 86.2); (State)
States and Tribes that have ADT Cooperative Agreements with APHIS are required to develop and update ADT Road Maps and submit them to their AVICs for approval (with guidance from ADT program staff, if necessary). The ADT Road Map serves as a strategic 3-year plan for advancing animal disease traceability within the jurisdiction of each State, Tribe, or territory. Each applicant must prioritize its program objectives and needs according to its traceability capability. By forecasting objectives and needs by 3 years, applicants can plan more consistently year to year and substantially reduce the time involved in planning and developing annual cooperative work plans. Concurrently, APHIS will have collective information to better project and enhance justification and submission of annual Federal budget requests and associated accountability. APHIS has an ADT Road Map template. Initial Road Maps, updates, and renewals must be approved by VS District personnel and filed in the appropriate District Offices. The Districts will approve the Road Maps using a checklist addressing the items in the Road Map Table of Contents.
Each applicant may address each item or add to the Road Map in a way that will benefit its own traceability needs. The template includes six required items that directly support the implementation framework and measure national traceability capability:
The applicant must list at least four animal disease traceability performance measures.
The applicant must indicate intended use of official metal ear tags to be applied by persons other than State or Federal animal health officials or accredited veterinarians.
The applicant must identify its tag distribution recordkeeping system or systems.
The applicant must identify how and when animal disease traceability data will be shared with other States, Tribes, territories, and APHIS.
The applicant must describe an outreach plan that explains its traceability plan and the ADT Road Map to accredited veterinarians, livestock markets, and industry, including small producers and those in underserved areas.
The applicant must describe a plan to monitor the activities described in the Road Map and to report interstate movement activity. This plan must include:
The number of ICVIs and other interstate movement documents created within the State, Tribe, or territory.
The number of ICVIs and other interstate movement documents received for animals moved into the State, Tribe, or territory.
The number of animals by species and class moving into the State, Tribe, or territory, indicating the number of animals officially identified and the number not officially identified.
The number of animals by species and class moving out of the State, Tribe, or territory.
Volume of distribution for each official numbering system used or device issued, including backtags.
The ADT Road Map prioritizes implementation objectives. This provides consistency and transparency in implementing animal disease traceability.
Cooperative Agreements/Lobbying Disclosure Forms (SF-424, SF-424A, SF-424B, and SF LLL); (9 CFR 86.2); (State/Tribal Governments)
APHIS provides Federal support for ADT implementation activities and infrastructure within participating States, Tribes, and territories through cooperative agreements. Cooperative agreement awards require quarterly reporting and Federal oversight of the successful completion of the goals and objectives outlined in the cooperative agreement workplan (a part of the application package).
ADT cooperative agreement funding is provided to advance animal disease traceability. Each participant will be required to evaluate, describe, and identify animal disease traceability risks within State or Tribal boundaries. Workplans will describe how each applicant will reduce those risks and advance animal disease traceability. Because States, Tribes, and territories continue to make varying progress to date, this approach will allow each applicant the flexibility needed to advance animal disease traceability appropriately for its individual situation.
3. Describe whether, and to what extent, the collection of information involves the use of automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses, and the basis for the decision for adopting this means of collection. Also describe any consideration of using information technology to reduce burden.
APHIS continues to provide information systems that States, and Tribes may use to implement their ADT plans. Producer premises information, animal movement information, and official animal identification data within the ADT framework necessary to support the framework’s objectives is maintained and controlled at the discretion of States and Tribes. APHIS does not track separately under NUES or DHIA. The changes reflect system modernization as well as conforming with the overall changes described at the top of the supporting statement.
States and Tribes may use any of the systems below to manage their information:
AIMS (Animal Identification Number Management System): This system is used to manage AIN official ID devices. Efforts are currently underway to modernize this AIMS system under the umbrella of Animal Disease Traceability Information System (ADTIS) modernization.
User manual: https://vsapps.aphis.usda.gov/demos/AIN_User_Guide_FULL.pdf.
Premises ID Allocator: This system is used to generate a unique PIN for a geographic location and manage the associated information for that premises. Efforts are currently underway to modernize this system under the umbrella of ADTIS as well. This system has replaced SPIS.
VSPS
(Veterinary Services Process Streamlining): This system has an
ICVI module that can be used by accredited veterinarians and
Federal, State, and Tribal animal health officials to generate an
ICVI via the online interface. These documents are kept in the
database and remain searchable by State animal health
officials.
User manual:
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/animal_health/vsps_int_lib/downloads/
vsps_interstate_user_manual.pdf.
SCS (Surveillance Collaboration System): This system has a module that allows States to file their movement documentation (ICVI).
AHER (Animal Health Event Repository): This system makes animal health events from other databases searchable. The system can also accept voluntary reports from third parties (states or private organizations) with five anonymous data points that are collected elsewhere and associated with Official Animal ID.
VS Form 1-64 is
available as a fillable form on the APHIS website,
https://www.aphis.usda.gov/
library/forms/pdf/vs-1-64.pdf, and
also via an email request to traceability@usda.gov.
APHIS is
looking into options to modernize this form.
The following will be prepared and submitted in a format convenient to the respondent or as required by the state.
Application for and Approval of an Approved Tagging Site
Official Identification Device Distribution Records
Certification of Veterinary Inspection
Unauthorized Removal of Official ID Devices
Reporting Retagging Records – Removed and Lost Tags
Coordination of Tag Orders with Manufacturer and Recordkeeping
Reporting Loss, Theft, Or Misuse of NUES Tags
Removal or replacement of Eartags and Recordkeeping
NUES Eartags Distributed Outside of Disease Programs
Informing VS of Tag Orders
Tribe Tag Distribution
Use of NUEs Eartags in the DHIA
DHIA Eartag Distribution Plan
DHIA Tag Application Record
4. Describe efforts to identify duplication. Show specifically why any similar information already available cannot be used or modified for use for the purpose described in item 2 above.
The information collected in connection with this activity is not available from any other source. APHIS is the only Federal agency responsible for tracing animal disease outbreaks. However, APHIS coordinates with fellow USDA agencies the Food Safety Inspection Service and the Agricultural Marketing Service, and with Health and Human Services’ Food and Drug Administration, in certain aspects of this traceability work.
5. If the collection of information impacts small businesses or other small entities, describe any methods used to minimize burden.
APHIS estimates that 80% of the respondents are small entities and would be affected by these requirements. APHIS developed these regulations to minimize burden on small businesses, because most producers who move livestock interstate (the principal respondents) are small entities. Such entities would not be required to maintain official identification records (other than for retagging of animals, which is expected to occur infrequently) or copies of CVIs.
Moreover, Federal traceability requirements do not apply in the following instances:
Movement entirely within Tribal land that straddles a State line if the Tribe has a separate traceability status from the States in which its lands are located.
Movement to a custom slaughter facility in accordance with Federal and State regulations for preparation of meat for personal consumption.
Movement as part of a State commuter herd with a copy of the commuter herd agreement.
Movement directly from one State through another State and back to the original State.
Movement to an approved tagging site, if the animals are officially identified there before they are commingled with cattle and bison from other premises.
6. Describe the consequence to Federal program or policy activities if the collection is not conducted or is conducted less frequently, as well as any technical or legal obstacles to reducing burden.
If the information was collected less frequently or not collected, APHIS’ ability to trace and appropriately address the outbreak of disease would be significantly hampered. This could have a tremendous impact on the health of U.S. livestock, and on the viability of industries dependent on U.S. livestock.
7. Explain any special circumstances that require the collection to be conducted in a manner inconsistent with the general information collection guidelines in 5 CFR 1320.5.
requiring respondents to report information to the agency more often than quarterly;
requiring respondents to prepare a written response to a collection of information in fewer than 30 days after receipt of it;
An
animal health official or accredited veterinarian issuing an ICVI
must forward
a copy to the State or Tribe of origin within 5
working days. The State of origin is also required to forward copies
of ICVIs it receives to the destination State within
7 calendar
days. These requirements are based on the speed, frequency, and
volume of interstate livestock movements in today’s marketing
environment and the threat
of rapid disease spread that movement
poses. APHIS needs information that supports rapid and effective
traceability to stop disease outbreaks and prevent recurrences; the
7-day requirement provides it in a timeframe that is workable at the
State level.
requiring respondents to submit more than an original and two copies of any document;
requiring respondents to retain records, other than health, medical, government contract, grant-in-aid, or tax records for more than 3 years;
Official identification device distribution records and reports of removed, lost, stolen, or misused tags used for cattle, bison, sheep, goats, cervids, and equids must be retained for 5 years. This requirement is because livestock animals, especially cattle, typically live to be more than 3 years old and animal diseases can affect all ages and classes of livestock. Therefore, traceability information that fully supports disease control, eradication, and surveillance needs to be maintained for longer than 3 years. APHIS also requires producers and operators of feedlots, markets, buying stations, and slaughter plants to retain records associated with animal movement for 5 years. The 5-year requirement brings consistency throughout APHIS regulations.
in connection with a statistical survey, that is not designed to produce valid and reliable results that can be generalized to the universe of study;
requiring the use of a statistical data classification that has not been reviewed and approved by OMB;
that includes a pledge of confidentiality that is not supported by authority established in statute or regulation, that is not supported by disclosure and data security policies that are consistent with the pledge, or which unnecessarily impedes sharing of data with other agencies for compatible confidential use; or
requiring respondents to submit proprietary trade secret, or other confidential information unless the agency can demonstrate that it has instituted procedures to protect the information's confidentiality to the extent permitted by law.
There are no other special circumstances, and this information collection is conducted in a manner consistent with the guidelines established in 5 CFR 1320.5.
8. Describe efforts to consult with persons outside the agency to obtain their views on the availability of data, frequency of collection, the clarity of instructions and recordkeeping, disclosure, or reporting form, and on the data elements to be recorded, disclosed, or reported. If applicable, provide a copy and identify the date and page number of publication in the Federal Register of the agency's notice, soliciting comments on the information collection prior to submission to OMB.
APHIS has engaged in productive consultations with the following individuals concerning the information collection activities associated with this program. APHIS contacted the individuals by email and phone to discuss the information APHIS collects to administer its animal disease traceability program. APHIS discussed with them how we obtain the necessary data and how frequently; how much data is available; the convenience and clarity of reporting formats and other collection instruments; and the clarity of, and necessity for, any recordkeeping requirements. The respondents stated via email or phone that they had no concerns with any of these items and had no further recommendations.
Scott Leibsle, DVM, DABVP
State Veterinarian/Administrator - Animal Industries
Idaho State Department of Agriculture
Physical Address: 2270 Old Penitentiary Road, Boise, ID 83712
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 7249, Boise, ID 83707
Phone Numbers: (208) 332-8540, (208) 332-8560
Fax Number: (208) 334-4062
scott.rleibsle@isda.idaho.gov
Greg Onstott
ADT program manager
Missouri Department of Agriculture
Animal Health Division
P.O. Box 630
1616 Missouri Boulevard
Jefferson City, MO 65102
Phone: (573) 751-7766
greg.onstott@mda.mo.gov
Stacey Schwabenlander, DVM, MPH, DACVPM|
Senior Veterinarian
Minnesota Board of Animal Health
625 Robert St N
St Paul, MN 55155-2538
Office Phone: (651) 201-6813
Cell Phone: (612) 616-1465
stacey.schwabenlander@state.mn.us
On Tuesday, October 19, 2021, APHIS published in the Federal Register (86 FR 57803), a 60‑day notice seeking public comments on its plans to request a 3-year approval of this collection of information. One comment from the public was received but contained no relevant comments or recommendations about the activities or burdens in this information collection.
9. Explain any decision to provide any payment or gift to respondents, other than remuneration of contractors or grantees.
This information collection activity involves no payments or gifts to respondents.
10. Describe any assurance of confidentiality provided to respondents and the basis for the assurance in statute, regulation, or agency policy.
No additional assurance of confidentiality is provided with this information collection. However, the confidentiality of information is protected under 5 U.S.C. 552a.
11. Provide additional justification for any questions of a sensitive nature, such as sexual behavior or attitudes, religious beliefs, and other matters that are commonly considered private. This justification should include the reasons why the agency considers the questions necessary, the specific uses to be made of the information, the explanation to be given to persons from whom the information is requested, and any steps to be taken to obtain their consent.
This information collection activity will ask no questions of a personal or sensitive nature.
12. Provide estimates of the hour burden of the collection of information. Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated.
Indicate the number of respondents, frequency of response, annual hour burden, and an explanation of how the burden was estimated. If this request for approval covers more than one form, provide separate hour burden estimates for each form and aggregate the hour burdens in Item 13 of OMB Form 83-I.
See APHIS Form 71.
Provide estimates of annualized cost to respondents for the hour burdens for collections of information, identifying and using appropriate wage rate categories.
In this renewal, the respondents are producers; State, Tribal, and territorial animal health officials; accredited veterinarians; livestock production and breed associations; livestock market operators; eartag manufacturers and distributors; designated laboratories and harvest facility operators.
APHIS estimates the total annualized cost to the above respondents to be $61,037,299. APHIS arrived at this figure by multiplying the hours of estimated response time (1,518,459 hours) by the estimated average hourly wage of the above respondents ($27.74) and then multiplying the result by 1.449 to capture benefit costs.
The
average hourly rates used to calculate the estimate are listed in the
table below. The rates were found at the U.S. Bureau of Labor
Statistics website https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/
oes_stru.htm.
SOCC |
OCCUPATION |
AVG HRLY WAGE |
11-9013 |
farm, ranch and other agricultural managers |
$36.93 |
45-2093 |
farmers and ranchers |
$14.93 |
29-1131 |
veterinarians |
$52.09 |
19-1011 |
laboratory staff (animal scientists) |
$35.84 |
51-3023 |
slaughterers and meat packers |
$15.00 |
19-4010 |
agricultural and food science technicians (staff of state and tribal animal health officials) |
$22.08 |
45-2011 |
agricultural inspectors (staff of state and tribal animal health officials) |
$23.38 |
51-1011 |
first-line supervisors/managers of production and operating workers (eartag manufacturers and distributors) |
$32.12 |
51-2090 |
assemblers and fabricators, all others (eartag manufacturers and distributors) |
$17.30 |
|
AVERAGE TOTAL HOURLY WAGE |
$27.74 |
According to DOL BLS news release USDL-21-0437 released March 18, 2021, employee benefits account for 31 percent of employee costs, and wages account for the remaining 69 percent. Mathematically, total costs can be calculated as a function of wages using a multiplier of 1.449.
13. Provide estimates of the total annual cost burden to respondents or recordkeepers resulting from the collection of information, (do not include the cost of any hour burden shown in items 12 and 14). The cost estimates should be split into two components: (a) a total capital and start-up cost component annualized over its expected useful life; and (b) a total operation and maintenance and purchase of services component.
No annual cost burden is associated with capital and startup costs, operation and maintenance expenditures, and purchase of services.
14. Provide estimates of annualized cost to the Federal government. Provide a description of the method used to estimate cost and any other expense that would not have been incurred without this collection of information.
See APHIS Form 79. The annualized cost to the Federal government is estimated at $259,767,309.
15. Explain the reasons for any program changes or adjustments reported in Items 13 or 14 of the OMB Form 83-1.
Burden Description |
Requested |
Program Change Due to New Statute |
Program Change Due to Agency Discretion |
Change Due to Adjustment in Agency Estimate |
Change Due to Potential Violation of the PRA |
Previously Approved |
Annual Number of Responses |
2,475,637 |
0 |
(7,776,397) |
(20,126) |
0 |
10,272,160 |
Annual Time Burden (Hr) |
1,518,339 |
0 |
149,882 |
53,721 |
0 |
1,314,736 |
This request for renewal is for 2,475,637 estimated responses and 1,518,339 estimated burden hours, reflecting a decrease of 7,796,523 responses and an increases of 203,603 hours from the previous submission. The number of respondents decreases from 275,622 to 273,587.
Adjustments to Agency estimates includes 22 previous activities, consolidated into 4 new activities listed in the table below:
NEW ACTIVITY TITLE |
PREVIOUS ACTIVITY TITLES |
Official ID Device Distribution |
|
Administration of Official ID Devices |
|
Approval of Official ID Devices |
|
Premises ID Registration |
Adjustments are also the result of the Application for the Use of More than One Official Device (States/business) being converted to an Official Identification Device Application (States/Business) (VS Form 1-64) which more accurately reflect current program usage. There was no change to the number of responses or hourly burden for this item; it is simply renamed, and the appropriate form assigned to it. The VS Form 1-64 replaced VS Form 1-63.
Discretionary program changes are included in the table below. The activities consolidated into the 4 new activities have been marked with an asterisk.
Activity Title |
Estimated Annual Responses |
Estimated Annual Hours |
Estimated Response Time |
* Official Identification Device (Business) |
13,441 |
119,041 |
161.67 |
* Official Identification Device (State) |
(2,439,881) |
(388,209) |
(379.41) |
* Administration of Official ID (Business) |
(312,219) |
(114,438) |
9.54 |
* Administration of Official ID (State) |
(271,379) |
(205,752) |
(434.83) |
* Approval of Official ID (Business) |
1,340,953 |
675,686 |
(17.58) |
* Approval of Official ID (State) |
169,750 |
84,875 |
.50 |
* Premises ID Registration (Business) |
0 |
0 |
(.75) |
Application for and Approval of an Approved Tagging Site (State) |
0 |
0 |
.02 |
Interstate Certificate of Veterinary Inspection (State) |
0 |
0 |
.10 |
Discontinued adjustments include the discontinuation of 10 activities, of which 3 were recordkeeping activities. These activities were previously included in anticipation of updates and changes to the regulations and General Standards (such as the evaluation of States and Tribes and the application of the State shield to official identification devices). Or, are no longer considered part of the ADT program (such as the collection of ID devices at slaughter), which is covered for each species under the appropriate program disease collection. As well, as, the use of the APHIS 435‑R, the Program Site Tag Information Sheet, and the consolidation of a number of activities under more general headings. A complete listing of the discontinued activities are listed in the table below.
9 CFR |
ACTIVITY |
RESP |
PREVIOUS RESPONSES/HOURS |
NEW RESPONSES |
DIFFERENCE RESPONSE/HOURS |
TYPE OF CHANGE |
86.7 |
Evaluation of States/Tribes |
S |
1/1 |
0 |
-1/-1 |
discontinued |
86.1, 86.5 |
Commuter Herd Agreement |
S |
480/120 |
0 |
-480/120 |
discontinued |
86.1, 86.5 |
Commuter Herd Agreement |
B |
800/200 |
0 |
-800/200 |
discontinued |
86.6 |
Collection of ID at Slaughter |
B |
6,227,728/26,156 |
0 |
-6,227,728/-26,156 |
discontinued |
86.4 |
Application of State Shield |
S |
10/2 |
0 |
-10/-2 |
discontinued |
86.2 |
Program Site Tag Info Sheet (APHIS 435-R) |
S |
9/2 |
0 |
-9/-2 |
discontinued |
86.6 |
Documentation of Completion of Performance Measures |
S |
1/1 |
0 |
-1/-1 |
discontinued |
86.1, 86.2 |
Recordkeeping - Official ID Device Applications and Approved ID Device Manufacturer Agreements |
B |
3/3 |
0 |
-3/-3 |
discontinued |
6.1, 86.2 |
Recordkeeping - AIN Device Manufacturer Updates |
B |
13/156 |
0 |
-13/-156 |
discontinued |
86.3 |
Tribal Tag Distribution |
B |
1/1 |
0 |
-1/-1 |
discontinued |
16. For collections of information whose results are planned to be published, outline plans for tabulation and publication.
APHIS has no plans to publish information it collects in connection with this activity.
17. If seeking approval to not display the expiration date for OMB approval of the information collection, explain the reasons that display would be inappropriate.
APHIS will display the expiration date.
18. Explain each exception to the certification statement identified in the "Certification for Paperwork Reduction Act."
APHIS can certify compliance with all provisions under the Act.
B. Collections of Information Employing Statistical Methods
No statistical methods are associated with the information collection activities used in this program.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | Turner, Alexander K - APHIS |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2022-02-25 |