Leadership Council Convenes to Discuss Final CWD Standards Draft

June 26, 2013

From the American Cervid Alliance

Outlines Strategy for Comment Period Process 

The American Cervid Alliance Leadership Council met Tuesday, June 25, 2013, to review the latest draft of the Standards Working Group, which concluded earlier this month. 

The latest draft of the standards, known as Version 22, will undergo a couple more weeks of technical proofing from the USDA internal attorneys.  Once Version 22 finishes technical revisions, the 56 page document will be submitted for the routine thirty day comment period.  The thirty day comment period will most likely begin in mid-July and offer the general public the opportunity to offer comments and suggestions.  At the conclusion of thirty days the USDA officials will consider the suggestions and then unveil the final product to be submitted to the Federal Registry.

The majority of the meeting’s discussion revolved around the lingering concerns of the language from Version 22.  ACA Moderator Eric Mohlman stated he would send the council members a starting point of collected bullet point concerns already offered by various members.  Mohlman then asked the council to go over the version one more time with their home associations to present their own additional concerns to the council for the next meeting. 

Version 22 closely mirrors Version 21, which was released by the USDA earlier in June with two notable exceptions. Version 22 now features a more broad range of Trace Forwards and a new definition of a “Hunt or Shooter Facility.”  The new definition concludes with the suggested idea for states for 100% testing for all harvested preserve animals by stating, “States also may have CWD testing requirements of all cervids harvested from these facilities.”

Sentiments from many of the council members revealed angst that there are still many problems to be solved within the standards document before the new document could be considered livable.  It was explained by Moderator Eric Mohlman that since there are many contentious areas of concern, it is imperative everyone works together to utilize the comment period process. 

There was a motion made by Tim Condict, representing the Deer Breeders COOP, to seek feedback from the leadership of various cattle and sheep livestock associations to examine how they have negotiated with BSE and Scrapie regulations.  The Condict motion was adopted unanimously.

Version 22 is available to view and download at www.americancervidalliance.org

 


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