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CHANGES TO CANADIAN CATTLE IDENTIFICATION PROGRAM

OTTAWA, July 4, 2005 – Effective June 29, 2005, changes have been implemented to the national cattle identification program that will further strengthen the ability of the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) to monitor the movement of cattle in Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has worked closely with the CCIA to develop these changes.

Included in the regulatory changes is a requirement for cattle identification tag distributors to report all tag sales to the national database within 24 hours of the sale to the producer. Producers will also be required to report all tags from deadstock disposed of on the farm to the national CCIA database to ensure that the tag number is retired. Deadstock leaving the farm will also need to be identified and reported to the national database.

A number of previous exemptions have also been removed from the program. Producers will now be required to ensure all animals are tagged before they are moved to community pastures, fairs, or veterinary clinics. Auction barn owners will also now be responsible for ensuring that all lost tags on animals moving though their facilities are replaced.

The national cattle identification program is a critical component of the suite of measures that Canada has in place to protect human and animal health. This program assists the CFIA in monitoring the national herd and investigating diseases, such as the trace-out investigations of the North American cases of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) diagnosed since 2003.

More information regarding all of the changes to the cattle identification program can be found through regional CFIA offices or by visiting the CFIA or CCIA Web sites.

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For information:

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Media relations: (613) 228-6682

Elizabeth Whiting
Minister’s Office: (613) 759-176