Identification and traceability – Guide for distributors of approved indicators

This document was part of a consultation on proposed amendments to Part XV of the Health of Animals Regulations – Identification and Traceability. The consultation ran from March 18, 2023 to June 16, 2023. This consultation is now closed. This document will be updated with the final regulations published in Canada Gazette, Part II.

This guide for distributors of approved indicators provides an overview of the proposed federal livestock identification and traceability requirements. It is to help regulated parties understand the proposed amendments to the Part XV Health of Animals Regulations (Identification and Traceability). It is not a substitute for the law. Provincial and territorial requirements may also apply.

This guide supports the objective of the national Livestock Identification and Traceability Program, which is to provide accurate and up-to-date livestock identity, movement and location information in order to mitigate the impact of disease outbreaks, food safety issues and natural disasters.

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Requirements for distributors of approved indicators

New The identification of premises where animals are kept or collected, the identification of goats and cervids and the domestic movement reporting of all ruminants (cattle, bison, sheep, goats and cervids) are the key changes in the proposed regulatory amendments.

Get the authorization to sell or distribute

You must obtain written authorization from the responsible administrator to sell or distribute approved indicators^Footnote 1. The authorization must be obtained from the responsible administrator of each species for which you wish to sell or distribute indicators.

Refer to the list of responsible administrators for contact information.

Selling or distribution of approved indicators

Report the sale or distribution of approved indicators and approved secondary indicators within 24 hrs of the sale or distribution.

When you sell or distribute approved indicators^Footnote 1, you must report the following information to the responsible administrator:

The name, address and telephone number of the person to whom the indicators were sold or distributed
The premises identification number of the site where the indicators will be applied
The date on which they were sold or distributed
Their unique identification numbers
The number of indicators that were sold or distributed

If the site where the indicators will be applied does not have a premises identification number, you must report to the responsible administrator the following information:

The legal description of the site
The name and telephone number of the operator of the site
A list of the animal species present at the site
The type of agriculture operation

Refer to premises identification for detailed information on premises identification numbers.

Prohibitions

It is prohibited to:

give, sell or distribute approved indicators, unless authorized in writing by a responsible administrator
provide an approved indicator to another person for the purpose of identifying animals located outside Canada
alter an approved indicator in any manner
make, sell, or provide a means of identifying animals or carcasses that is likely to be mistaken for an approved indicator

Definitions

Approved indicator: Refers to indicators approved under the Livestock Identification and Traceability Program. In most cases approved indicators are approved ear tags.
Approved secondary indicator: Refers to secondary indicators approved under the Livestock Identification and Traceability Program.
Revoked indicator: Refers to indicators that are no longer approved under the Livestock Identification and Traceability Program.
Site: Refers to premises where ruminants or pigs or the carcasses of ruminants or pigs are kept or collected, but does not include a conveyance.

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