Livestock Identification and Traceability Program - Regulatory Update N° 5
Topic: Reporting Animal Movements The objective of the TRACE Newsletter is to provide an overview of progress on proposed amendments to Part XV of the federal Health of Animals Regulations (hereafter referred to the “Regulations”) that pertains to livestock identification and traceability. This fifth edition focuses on one of the key elements of the regulatory proposal: reporting animal movements.
Why are amendments to the Health of Animals Regulations being proposed? The CFIA is proposing amendments to the Health of Animals Regulations to strengthen Canada’s livestock traceability system. The proposed federal traceability regulations would require, amongst other things, reporting the animal movement to a responsible administrator for a location where, for example an animal has been received or slaughtered.
Why is reporting animal movements important? A traceability system with information on an animal’s movements from one point to another throughout the supply chain will make it easier to control the spread of disease and minimize the impact on the industry. The proposed amendments are expected to strengthen Canada’s ability in responding quickly to health threats and other emergencies.
What information related to the movement of animals and carcasses is important in managing health issues? The information needed to manage health issues and that would be required to be reported are referred to the “data requirements”; these requirements are described in the table below.
Supporting compliance for proposed requirements
Operators will not be required to use an electronic reader in order to report the identification number of an approved indicator;
Building on current provincial and federal requirements, carriers would be required to provide information to the operator of the destination on the source of animals;
Operators of a farm, a feedlot, or an agricultural fair who choose to use an electronic reader favourably reviewed by the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency to read the identification number of an approved indicator will be required to report the identification number of indicators read on the first pass, but not those not read.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is dedicated to safeguarding food, animals and plants to enhance the health and well-being of Canadians, the environment and economy.
Livestock traceability is the ability to follow an animal or group of animals during all stages of its life. There are three main pillars to livestock traceability systems:
Identification of livestock with an approved indicator;
Identification of premises where livestock are kept, assembled or disposed of; and,
Reporting events related to livestock such as movement of animals from one premises to another.
The goal of the livestock traceability system is to provide timely, accurate and relevant information to reduce the impacts of a disease outbreak, food safety issue or natural disasters originating from and/or affecting livestock.
The Livestock Identification and Traceability Program (TRACE) has been administered jointly by CFIA and industry since 2001. The program is regulated and enforced under Part XV of the Health of Animals Regulations, made under the authority of the Health of Animals Act.
Definitions
Animals means a bison, cattle, caprine, cervid, pig or sheep
Caprine (Goat) means an animal, other than an embryo or fertilized egg, of the genus Capra.
Cervid (deer, elk) means an animal, other than an embryo or fertilized egg, of the family Cervidae.
Community pasture means a pasture that is managed by or leased from the Government of Canada, a provincial government or a municipality, or owned by, managed by or leased from a community pasture association, a grazing association or a grazing cooperative, and where animals from more than one operator of a farm are assembled and commingled.
Domestic means within Canada
Farm means land, and all buildings and other structures on that land, that is used under one management for breeding or raising animals, but does not include an artificial insemination unit.
Reporting means providing set information to a responsible administrator (i.e. Canadian Cattle Identification Agency, Canadian Pork Council or Agri-Traçabilité Québec)
Ruminant means a bison, cattle, caprine, cervid or sheep
More information on the Livestock Identification and Traceability (TRACE) Program can be found at https://www.inspection.gc.ca/animals/terrestrial-animals/traceability/eng/1300461751002/1300461804752
