What happened: Half a dozen swine veterinarians were in Washington, DC, to lobby congressional lawmakers on several issues of importance to the U.S. pork industry.
The veterinarians urged members of Congress to support funding for U.S. Department of Agriculture programs related to foreign animal diseases (FADs), including the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures Bank, the National Animal Health Laboratory Network, and the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program, as well the National Veterinary Stockpile. They also asked for funds for USDA to run the U.S. Swine Health Improvement Plan (US SHIP).
US SHIP is a national producer-driven voluntary program to establish consistent health standards for the control of FADs such as African swine fever, Classical swine fever, and other endemic diseases. As a USDA regulatory program, US SHIP would encourage U.S. pork operations to obtain certification that they are free from FADs, outside of control areas. That would allow pork to be moved in interstate commerce and international trade following an FAD outbreak in the United States.
The veterinarians also called for a legislative fix to the problems caused by California Proposition 12.
NPPC’s take: NPPC strongly supports funding for the so-called three-legged stool of USDA programs that address FADs and money for US SHIP. It has led the fight to address issues – higher pork prices, for example – resulting from California Proposition 12 and pre-empt other states from approving similar agricultural production laws that affect producers outside their borders.
Why it matters: Adequate and consistent funding for federal programs that help prevent, prepare for, and respond to FADs is paramount to the U.S. pork industry, including swine veterinarians, who collaborate with USDA and state animal health agencies to ensure the well-being of animals and the safety of the U.S. food supply.
