The technology to be used for identification has not yet been finally chosen, although some recommendations have been made by the different species working groups, which represent animal producers.
Radio frequency identification (RFID), such as that found in microchips, retinal scanning[citation needed], and DNA samples are among the possibilities.
This would allow a report to be filed each time one of a set of events occurs, such as a change of an animal's ownership or movement to a new premises.
This request was part of the National Animal Identification System (NAIS) spurred by the discovery of the first case of mad cow disease in the United States.
[9] On December 19, 2007, the FDA announced plans to create a database to track cloned animals through the food system and enable an effective labeling process.
[14] Small farmers and families that sell off parts of their herds or flocks every year would have to register and pay a registration fee for every head of livestock or poultry, while corporate farms with large herds or flocks that move through the production chain as a group, will only have to pay the fee equivalent of owning one animal.
There are also civil rights concerns, because NAIS establishes extensive government control over livestock, which are considered to be private property.
There are also concerns that the big agribusiness companies will use this system to blame their mistakes in processing which introduces contamination to the food supply on small farmers, putting them out of business.
Although DATCP Secretary Rod Nilsestuen said in a May 1, 2007 press release that Premises ID is not Animal ID, he does not deny that in September 2005 he wrote to the US House of Representatives Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Livestock and Horticulture (serial number 109-16) that he and DATCP "support the use of RFID technology in all livestock species as deemed effective and appropriate by the NAIS Species Working Groups."
[19] The WLIC is a private interest group made up of Big Agribusiness, including Cargill, Genetics/Biotech Corporations, like ABS Global, and RFID tagging companies such as Digital Angel,[20] and many of these members parallel NIAA membership.
[21] There are also in fact only 6 RFID tags that are approved by WLIC/NAIS at this time: 2 manufactured by Allflex, 2 by Digital Angel, one by Y-Tex and 1 by Global Animal Management.
[23] If microchip implants were required, as has been proposed in a 2004 report by the United States Animal Health Association’s Committee on Livestock Identification, it would also violate the rights of those who believe that this practice is morally wrong.
[25] The government claims the system improves food safety and access to export markets, and assists with disease management.