On this page
- Overview of livestock traceability in Canada
- Acts and regulations
- Management of animal traceability information
- Documents incorporated by reference
- Inspection and enforcement
- Additional resources
Overview of livestock traceability in Canada
Livestock traceability is the ability to follow 1 animal or a group of animals from 1 point in the supply chain to another.
Livestock traceability systems are based on 3 basic elements:
- animal identification
- premises identification
- animal movement
Traceability systems are important, effective tools that can be used for many things, including:
- protection of animal health
- public health
- food safety
They can help reduce response times during an emergency or outbreak, thereby limiting economic, environmental and social impacts of disease outbreaks, food safety issues and natural disasters.
Effective traceability includes identification and movement reporting. The regulations for cattle, bison, sheep, pigs and farmed wild boars are outlined in Part XV of the Health of Animals Regulations.
Vision
To create an industry and government partnership resulting in secure data, networked into an added value-driven and sustainable traceability information system that meets Canada's private- and public-sector needs in our diverse agriculture and food industry to:
- enhance our ability to protect animal health and to address food safety issues
- enhance industry competitiveness and ability to retain or capture market opportunities
Objective
To provide rapid access to accurate and up-to-date traceability information.
This information may be used to assist in managing emergencies resulting from a food safety issue, a natural disaster or an infectious disease that may spread either slowly and insidiously (for example: bovine spongiform encephalopathy [BSE]) or more rapidly (for example: foot-and-mouth disease).
Outcomes
The expected outcomes for the livestock traceability program are:
- risks to the Canadian public associated with the food supply system are mitigated
- risks to Canadians from the transmission of animal diseases to humans are minimized
- risks to the Canadian animal resource base are mitigated
- domestic and imported animals and animal products are compliant with Canadian regulations and international agreements
- international markets are accessible to Canadian food, animals, plants and their products
Acts and regulations
We are responsible for the administration and enforcement of the following acts and regulations relative to livestock traceability:
- Health of Animals Act (S.C. 1990, c. 21)
- Health of Animals Regulations (C.R.C., c. 296)
Management of livestock traceability information
- Description of animal traceability information, its usage and disclosure
- To whom livestock traceability information must be reported: Program Administrators
- How to report livestock traceability information
Documents incorporated by reference
Under development
Inspection and enforcement
Compliance for livestock traceability requirements is verified by our inspectors. The inspectors verify traceability information that has been reported to the responsible administrators and conduct on-site visits and interviews with operators of a site where livestock is kept.
- How to get ready for an on-site inspection
- Inspection and Enforcement
- Compliance and enforcement policy
- Administrative monetary penalties