• National Animal Identification System (NAIS) is an animal disease surveillance program implemented by the United State Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA/APHIS).

• The goal of this program is to develop the capability of USDA/APHIS to identify all animals and premises that have had direct contact with a foreign animal disease or a domestic disease of concern within 48 hours after disease discovery.

• This system involves tagging farm animals providing specific identification number to specific farm and specific animals at that farm, and keeping the records of this identification at USDA/APHIS office.  The identification number is used to track the animal(s) and premise(s) when needed.

• The program was originally voluntary, but as of 2009, USDA is moving to make producers' participation mandatory.

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