What is NAIS?
NAIS is a modern, streamlined information system that helps producers and animal health officials respond quickly and effectively to animal disease events in the U.S. The NAIS program - a voluntary state/federal/industry partnership - helps protect U.S. livestock and poultry from disease spread, maintains consumer confidence in our food supply, and retains access to domestic and foreign markets.

The development of NAIS started several years ago as a cooperative effort among USDA, the states and industry partners. NAIS ultimate goal is to have the ability to collect location and movement information of all potentially affected animals within 48 hours of disease detection.

The program, which is voluntary on the federal level, is made up of three components: premises registration, animal identification and animal tracing. Premises registration, the foundation of NAIS, establishes a contact list for all locations in the U.S. that manage or hold livestock and/or poultry. Almost 450,000 premises have been registered so far under NAIS as of February 27, 2008 (out of an estimated 1.4 million).

Animal identification provides producers with a uniform numbering system for their animals and links livestock/poultry to their premises of origin. Animal tracing, the final component of NAIS, allows producers to choose a private or state animal tracking database and report certain animal movements that may pose a significant risk of disease transmission.

In an animal disease outbreak, this information will make it easier to determine the scope of the disease situation and locate potentially infected animals.

Joseph J. Grillo, President and Chief Executive Officer of Digital Angel, said, "We continue to support the livestock industry groups and USDA as they implement NAIS for livestock producers on a voluntary basis. We believe this system is extremely valuable for developing prompt animal traceability standards and improving the countrys ability to respond to a massive disease outbreak utilizing our Destron Fearing livestock and equine identification products.

"The more efficiently and thoroughly we can respond to an animal disease outbreak, the quicker we can contain the disease, reduce animal and financial losses, and return to business as usual."

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