USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) has approved the first visual-only 840 animal ID device, for use in the National Animal Identification System (NAIS). The 840 prefix is the international country code for the U.S.

The newly-approved device lets producers who want to use a visual-only ear-tag – instead of radio frequency identification (RFID) 840 tags – to participate in the NAIS. Producers can use NAIS 840 tags (visual-only or RFID tags) to document livestock origin for country of origin labeling, and packers can rely on this information if they make origin claims about products, in accordance with COOL.

A list of available tags and manufacturers can be found at http://animalid.aphis.usda.gov/nais/animal_id/purchase_tags.shtml.