Share Your Thoughts: Consultation on Proposed Changes to Part XV of the Health of Animals Regulations (Identification and Traceability)

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is proposing changes to Part XV (Animal Identification) of the Health of Animals Regulations to improve the livestock identification and traceability system in Canada.

If you own sheep, goats, pigs, cattle, bison or farmed cervids or are involved with livestock production or handling, we encourage you to share your feedback during the 90-day consultation period from March 18, 2023 to June 16, 2023. See:

• Share your thoughts: Consultation on proposed changes to Part XV of the Health of Animals Regulations (Identification and Traceability)

Background:

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is proposing amendments to Part XV of the Health of Animals Regulations (Identification and Traceability) to enable a more effective and timely response to disease outbreaks and food safety issues, and improve support for disease surveillance activities.

About the consultation

Over the last decade, industry and government representatives have been working together on the livestock traceability file. Consultations with industry and provinces identified some gaps and opportunities to improve Canada's livestock traceability system. Feedback received set the foundation for proposed regulatory changes. The proposed amendments are expected to strengthen Canada's ability to respond quickly to animal health threats and other emergencies.

What we are looking to change

The regulatory proposal would address the gaps in the current livestock identification and traceability system, including:

• adding goats and cervids as animal species that share diseases with other regulated livestock, and therefore subject to traceability requirements

• shortening the time period allowed to report an event to better support an efficient response to disease outbreaks

• adding a requirement to provide information about the geographical location of sites where animals are located

• requiring the reporting of domestic movements of livestock

Why you should participate

This is an opportunity to share your views to inform changes to the regulations. The input gathered through this consultation will be used to improve the regulations, help Canada build a robust and effective livestock traceability system, and improve the Government of Canada's ability to respond quickly to animal health threats and other emergencies.

Join in: how to participate

• Read the proposed regulations in Canada Gazette Part I which has the full text of the proposed regulations and the regulatory impact analysis statement (RIAS).

• Read the following guides developed to help regulated parties understand the proposed regulatory requirements: