Livestock Traceability

Traceability is the ability to follow an item or a group of items - be it animal, plant, food product or ingredient - from one point in the supply chain to another, either backwards or forwards. Livestock traceability systems are based upon three basic elements: animal identification; premises identification; and animal movement.

Traceability systems are important, effective tools that can be used for many things, including the protection of animal health, public health and food safety. They can help reduce response time, thereby limiting economic, environmental and social impacts of emergency situations such as disease outbreaks.

Industry-led animal identification systems currently exist for cattle, bison and sheep. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) enforces identification requirements for these sectors under the Health of Animals Regulations.

What information is available?

• Canadian Cattle Identification Program
• Canadian Sheep identification Program
• List of Administrators

Additional information

• 2012-07-16- News Release: Government of Canada Seeking Comments on Proposed Pig Traceability Regulation
  • Examples of reporting requirements under the proposed pig traceability system
• 2012-03-19- Consultation: Strengthening Livestock and Poultry Traceability in Canada [closed May 3]
• Canadian Traceability
  • National Livestock and Poultry Traceability Performance Targets
• Agri-Traçabilité Québec
• Canadian Cattle Identification Agency
• Canadian Sheep Federation -Identification Program
• National Livestock Identification for Dairy
• Privacy Impact Assessment of Part XV (Animal Identification) of the Health of Animals Regulations (Library and Archives Canada)
• Provincial Premises Registry (Ontario)