There are three key components of the Swine ID Plan: Premises registration, animal identification and animal tracing. Premises registration is the most critical part of the plan, because the other two components rely specifically on premises identification numbers in order to work effectively. Animal identification is the method pork producers will use to identify their animal by group/lot or, under certain circumstances, individual animal identification. Animal tracing includes two main components. The first is the recording of movement information by pork producers, and the second is the reporting of movement information when required by current law or at the request of animal health authorities. The Swine ID Plan applies only to the identification and trace back of swine up to when the carcass passes USDA inspection. The system is not designed or intended to track fresh pork or pork products through the retail system.

Key Points

• A Premises Identification Number, or PIN, is made up of seven alphanumeric characters that identify a physical location in which livestock may be located. The number is randomly assigned, and the location and owner cannot be determined by looking at the characters that make up the PIN.
• PINs are the foundation for producers being able to officially identify groups of pigs within a production system.
• Once registered, premises will maintain the same PIN even if there is a change of ownership or species of livestock maintained.
• Registering for a PIN requires no more information than what can be accessed in the phone book, online, or through public records.
• Animal identification for swine is based on current industry identification methods for pigs.
• Animal tracing for swine focuses on a producer’s timely and accurate recording of movement information and the reporting of that information as currently required by the law or at the request of animal health authorities for animal disease control.
• Producers who participate in Premises tegistration and Swine ID Plan will help strengthen the swine health infrastructure by making trace backs faster, more efficient, and more accurate.