The Canadian Radio Frequency Identification (CRFID) Reader Program

Eligibility Criteria

The Canadian Radio Frequency Identification (CRFID) Reader Program is funded by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC). The program commenced 1 April 2005 and all applications must be post marked on or before 31 December 2007.

These Eligibility Criteria form part of the CRFID application.

Objective and Expected Results

The objective of the CRFID Reader Program is to accelerate the development of a comprehensive livestock tracking and tracing system in support of traceability initiatives.

This initiative is seen as an important operational component of the overall BSE tracking and tracing strategy.

Eligible Applicants

An individual, organization, business or facility beyond the farm gate are eligible to apply for the purposes of reporting Cattle RFID Tag information. Eligible applicants include:

• Slaughter and processing plants
• Sales Barns/Stockyards/Auction Markets
• Veterinarians
• Veterinarian Schools and Universities
• Pathology Labs (private)
• Mobile Butchers
• Dead Stock Operators
• Commercial Livestock Truckers *
• Commercial Feedlots *
• Grazing Co-operatives/Community Pastures *

*Commercial Livestock truckers, Commercial Feedlots, Grazing Co-operatives and Community Pastures are only eligible for readers purchased after 24 March 2006.

Applicant Eligibility for more than one reader

All applicants are eligible for more than one reader.

Applicant Eligibility for associated hardware, software and installation costs
Costs associated with the installation of panel readers and the associated hardware and software such as traceability data sorting software and traceability data sorting terminals are eligible expenses under the $3000 cap.

Costs associated with handheld readers and the associated hardware and software such as traceability data sorting software and traceability data sorting terminals are eligible expenses under the $1000 cap.

Non-eligible expenses:

• Personal computers
• Hardware and software used for other purposes other than traceability systems
• Hardware or software used for profit or the daily business operations or personal use other than traceability systems

Applicant's Obligations

Applicant's must meet and/or shall agree to or comply with the following conditions:

• Apply for funding by completing and signing the prescribed application form and providing proof of purchase including the manufacturer and model number for eligible RFID readers as are listed in the application.
• Provide their CCIA PIN number or provide their ATQ Stakeholder number and Premise ID.
• Provide a written statement from the vendor for purchases of multiple readers. Refer to section titled "Applicant Eligibility" for more than one reader.

Mandatory CRFID Reader Program Requirements

Stakeholders are mandated to upload the information transmitted from the readers to the CCIA/ATQ databases in accordance with their respective standards. Failure to meet the CCIA/ATQ reporting requirements will result in a default and AAFC may require the repayment of all funds received and until repaid such amount will constitute a debt due to the Crown.

RFID Readers must be compatible with the software requirements as stated by the National Administrator's protocol and/or ATQ's protocol by stakeholder group, in capturing and disseminating data.

The CRFID Reader Program is only available to eligible applicants in the cattle industry.

Mandatory Reader Requirements

The following conditions must be met:

• Readers must meet ISO 11784/785 standards for animal identification with frequencies of 134.2 kHz with capabilities of reading both half and full duplex.
• Readers must be Canadian Standards Association (CSA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or Industry Canada approved.
• Eligible Reader Types
  Applicants must provide proof of purchase including the manufacturer and model number of the reader to the CRFID Reader Program Administrator for the following:
  • RFID hand-held reader
  • RFID Panel reader
  • Installation costs for panel Readers
  • Associated hardware and software directly related to reader installation
• Maximum number of RFID Readers per Application
  Applications for multiple RFID readers must be accompanied by a written statement from the vendor that indicates that a site visit was performed and certification that the reader configuration proposed is necessary to meet the requirements of the facility.

RFID Reader Information

For information specific to the RFID readers buyers can refer to Reader Product specifications on the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) website at www.canadaid.ca or contact CCIA at 1-877-909-2333. Applicants registered with the Agri-Traçabilité Québec (ATQ) can call 1-866-270-4319 for product information.

Payment Criteria

Payment will be issued to eligible participants for eligible readers purchased and delivered on or after 1 April 2005, with all applications post marked on or before 31 December 2007.

NOTE: for Commercial Livestock Truckers, Corporate Feedlots, Grazing Co-operatives and Community Pastures, only readers purchased after March 24, 2006 will be considered eligible.

Applicable CRFID Reader Program expenditures will be cost-shared between the applicant and the CRFID Reader Program. Applicants must provide proof of purchase including the manufacturer and model number with their application. The maximum contribution to an applicant will be based on 50% reimbursement up to a maximum, as stated herein, for the following reader products:

• Hand-held radio frequency identification reader (50% of the actual purchase cost less the refundable portion of the GST or HST up to a maximum of $1,000 per handheld reader).
• Panel radio frequency identification reader including installation and associated Hardware and software. (50% of the actual purchase cost less the refundable portion of the GST or HST up to a maximum of $3,000 per panel reader).

Length of the CRFID Reader Program

The program commenced 1 April 2005 and all applications must be post marked on or before 31 December 2007.

Application Deadline Date(s)

The program commenced 1 April 2005 and all applications must be post marked on or before 31 December 2007.

Note: Applications will not be approved for purchases made prior to the commencement of the CRFID Reader Program.

Privacy and Confidentiality

The Social Insurance Number (SIN), Business Number (BN) or Goods and Services Tax (GST) Number is collected under the authority of the Income Tax Act for the purpose of reporting income.

All personal information provided by the applicant will be protected under the provisions of the Privacy Act. Personal information provided by the applicant about another individual may be accessible to him/her under the Privacy Act. Information, other than personal, may be accessible or protected as required under the provisions of the Access to Information Act.