RFID lawsuit: Gotta have it or make it stop?

The US Dept. of Agriculture filed a motion to dismiss a lawsuit challenging the agency’s plant to implement a livestock traceability program using radio frequency identification (RFID) tags. But lawyers for the plaintiffs want the court to hear the case. In its motion to dismiss the lawsuit, USDA argued that the specific agency action that prompted the lawsuit was withdrawn and therefore should be dismissed as moot. The Animal and Plant Health Inspection Agency (APHIS) of USDA planned to transition cattle and bison producers to RFID tags from metal ear tags for cattle and bison. The agency intended to discontinue providing free metal ear tags starting Dec. 31, 2019.