NAIS

Stands for National Animal Identification System and it is probably one of the worst-thought-out and little known bits of legislation that is creeping into our lives. The idea is that any animal is tracked from birth to death and records are kept of the animals location if it ever leaves its "premises" -- this would cover a horse leaving the ranch for a few hour ride in the country. When you talk and email officials involved, they say that this is strictly voluntary but if you read what is provided at the USDA website, it starts of voluntary and becomes mandatory in stages over the next couple of years. One area greatly affected is the traditional state fair. The one in Tulsa, OK just required that all sheep, goats and beef be microchipped. Their animal nomination site. The fine print from the nomination form:

...in compliance with the Rules and Regulations of the Tulsa State Fair and at any time from this date of nomination, I will make this live project animal available immediately upon request for test samples to be taken by officials of the Tulsa State Fair; United States Department of Health and Human Services, Food and Drug Administration, United States Department of Agriculture, Food Safety Inspection Service, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, and/or any other Oklahoma State Agency. I understand that failure to cooperate fully with representatives of the above named organizations and/or microchip ID loss or indication of tampering with the device, will result in immediate disqualification of this project and loss of my participation privileges in all future Tulsa State Fair competitive events.

I have written about NAIS before here, here, here, here and here. A good place to begin is NoNAIS