|
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Canadian Cattle Identification
Program?
The Canadian
Cattle identification Program is an industry initiated and
established trace back system designed for the containment
and eradication of animal disease.
Who implemented this
program?
Industry leaders recognized the importance of safeguarding our national herd and
assuring consumer confidence at home and in our export markets, which lead to provincial
cattle organizations lobbying for the establishment of a national identification program.
The CCIA was formed at the direction of elected cattle industry representatives and given
the mandate to develop an individual animal trace back system for animal health and product
safety. The Agency is led by a Board of Directors made up of representatives from all
sectors of the industry – cow/calf, feedlot, auction market, packing plant,
veterinary and dairy. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Agriculture and Agri-Food
Canada are represented through ex-officio status.
Top
Why the transition to RFID
technology?
As of September 1, 2006 all cattle leaving their farm of origin must
be tagged with a CCIA approved RFID
tag. In order to facilitate bar coded tags on cattle that left their
farm of origin prior to September 1, 2006, the CCIA will continue to recognize
bar coded tags until December 31, 2007.
RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) technology:
- Allows for optimal tag retention.
- Provides accurate and efficient trace back
information
- Allows for the electronic reading of numbers without
previously required line of sight.
- Ensures Canada has an accurate and comprehensive age
verification system.
- Provides the necessary basis for full animal
movement tracking.
RFID Tags
and the Canadian Cattle Industry Brochure (pdf )
Top
What are my RFID tag options?
Producers have a selection of tag options from several approved manufacturers from
which to choose. Marketplace competition and the volume of tags produced for the program
will assist in keeping tag prices within the price range of each other.
As of September 1, 2006 all cattle leaving their herd of origin are to be tagged
with a CCIA approved RFID
tag.
What are the tagging requirements for
Community Pastures?
The Canadian
Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has announced a regulatory
amendment that requires all cattle to be tagged prior to
leaving their farm of origin, including those going to
community pasture, exhibition site, test station or
veterinary clinic (unless going to an approved tagging
site).
A recent
bulletin from the CFIA announced that, “Producers
will now be required to ensure all animals are tagged before
they are moved to community pastures, fairs, or veterinary
clinics. 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.”
The CFIA has indicated that cattle
going to pasture in compliance will return to the farm of
origin in compliance.
What is Age Verification?
Age
Verification is the association of animal birth date data
with an Animal Identification Number (Single Tag or Tag
Group). With the ever increasing demand for accurate age
determination in Canadian cattle, the CCIA implemented
technological advancements to the national database that
provides an effective and international recognized Age
Verification Process. This free of charge, voluntary program
enables producers to store information and have it readily
available should it be required by domestic or export
markets. Producers who do not have internet access can
assign a third-party user to submit information on their
behalf.
For more
information, please contact the CCIA office, 1-877-909-2333.
How do I Submit
Birth Dates?
Prior to being able to
submit data for the first time, users must validate
themselves on the
Age
Verification Website . This step ensures the highest
data integrity is met at all times. For full directions in
on how to submit Birth Date Data,
please click on the
Age Verification
and the Canadian Cattle Industry Brochure (pdf)
Where is the CCIA program at today?
With over 97% compliance, the Canadian Cattle Identification Program has
continued to be a world leader in animal identification and Age Verification.
Who
pays for the
program?
Initial funds for the CCIA were received through a grant from the Beef
Industry Development Fund. Additional funds to be used for trials and development have
been approved through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency and a number of provincial governments and private industry
organizations.
Top
How confidential are the
records?
The information maintained at the CCIA office includes date, record of individual
unique number and link to the herd of origin and packing plant. The information
is secure and the CCIA will only provide information from those records to the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency in the event of a request for trace back for health or safety reasons.
Where can I get more information?
Contact your provincial cattle organization or the CCIA at 218, 6715 – 8 Street
NE, Calgary, Alberta T2E 7H7; Phone: 1-877-909-BEEF (2333) Fax: (403) 275-1668. Website
– www.canadaid.com
Top
|
