The Traceability Cattle Identification Regulation will be replacing the Traceability Livestock Identification Regulation.

 

According to George Groeneveld, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, traceability is important in providing assurances of food safety and managing animal health issues.

 

He added that Alberta has taken a leadership role in Canada in developing a traceability system and these adjustments will not only enhance Alberta's system, it will also provide flexibility to producers in meeting requirements.

 

There are two parts to the new regulations: tagging requirements for cattle identification and cattle move-in reporting for feedlots.

 

All producers now have until cattle are 10 months of age, rather than eight, to apply industry-approved Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags and register the cattle's birth date. Cattle producers using actual birth dates have the option of using a cattle identifier (tattoo or production dangle tag) by three months of age and until applying an RFID tag at 10 months of age or the animal leaves the farm. Formerly, three months of age is required for RFID tags.

 

At present, feedlots feeding 1,000 or more heads a year are required to report move-in information to the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA). Previously, only feedlots feeding 5,000 or more heads were required to do so. This regulation applies only to feedlots, and not cow-calf operations.

 

In Canada, livestock traceability regulations took effect since January 1, 2009. Cattle born after that date are required to have their age verified under the Animal Health Act.