WASHINGTON – The U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has ordered the U.S. Department of Agriculture to suspend the effective date for the proposed Privacy Act system entitled National Animal Identification System (NAIS).

A report on the indefinite suspension, required by the Administrative Procedure Act, has been sent to the chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, chairman of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee in the House of Representatives, and the Administrator, Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, Office of Management and Budget.

The suspension will reportedly remain in place until another court order allowing it. The system was to be effective on June 9, 2008.

Source: American Meat Institute