United States-Farmers privacy guaranteed.

UNITED STATES-FARMERS PRIVACY.

A federal court has ruled that records collected under the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) will be protected by the U.S. Privacy Act.

The decision means sensitive information about producers’ premises, businesses and animals will be exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

"It is important that our producers can trust that confidential business information will be protected from FOIA requests," NCBA Executive Director of Legislative Affairs Colin Woodall said in NCBA’s "Capitol Concerns" newsletter. "Nevertheless, this decision can be appealed, and we will be closely monitoring that to ensure that producers’ privacy rights are upheld."

NCBA said it favors voluntary adoption of individual animal identification programs that support genetic improvement, source verification and disease surveillance. "The private sector should have a role in providing identification solutions that fit the varying needs of America’s cattle producers," Woodall said.

NCBA contends a private-sector plan provides state and federal government officials with adequate information to improve such animal health surveillance.

"From our conversation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, we understand that it is easier to protect sensitive data from FOIA requests under a voluntary system," Woodall. "This is one more reason to support voluntary identification systems rather than a government mandate."