Tagging Sites

The Canadian Cattle Identification Program is an industry initiated and established trace back system designed for the containment and eradication of animal disease.

September 1, 2006
All Cattle leaving their herd of origin are to be tagged with a CCIA approved RFID tag.

In order to facilitate the transition to RFID, full enforcement by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will commence December 31, 2007.

Please note: Tampering with and /or cutting out a CCIA approved tag is against regulation. At this time, producers who have bar code tags in animals will need to leave the bar code tag in when applying an RFID tag.  Producers can log onto their accounts at www.clia.livestockid.ca or visit www.canadaid.ca/info for more information on how to cross-reference when two tags are applied on the same animal which ensures all information including any Age Verification information is maintained.

Important Guidelines for Tagging Sites

• You may apply to become an approved dealer of tags.
   
• The CCIA encourages all producers to replace lost tags at every possible intervention.
   
• Tags should be applied according to manufacturer's directions.
   
• If you apply a CCIA tag to an animal that is already tagged, the CCIA requires notification of the cross-referenced numbers.
   
• CCIA tags should never be re-used.
   
• Records of the ID number of re-tagged animals (ie. animals who have lost tags) should be kept along with any known information of where they came from.
   
• CCIA tags should not be removed from an animal that is already tagged unless the number has been retired from the CCIA database as in the case of dead or exported animals.
   
• Please ensure numbers on CCIA approved tags remain visible.
   
• 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).

Approved Tagging Sites

This information is based on Section 183 (1) of the Canadian Health of Animals Regulations.

In response to industry concern that many herd owners do not have suitable facilities to restrain cattle for tagging, provision has been made to allow the establishment of approved tagging sites.

An approved tagging site is any facility where the manager of the site has received prior approval from the CCIA to operate such a site and has given the undertakings required in the regulations. The Following must be met to operate an approved tagging site:

• The operator must provide the CCIA with the name and address of the site and an undertaking that, animals are to be tagged only with approved tags issued to the owner of the cattle to be tagged. These tags are to be brought to the tagging site with the cattle to be tagged.
   
• The approved tags are to be applied immediately upon arrival of the untagged cattle at the site.
   
• The operator of the site must keep records of the names and addresses of the owners or persons having possession, care or control of the animals brought to the site, the date of tagging and the tag numbers applied to the animals.

Only facilities that have requested and gained recognition as an approved tagging site are able provide this service. Operations such as auction markets, community pastures, bull test stations, or any other suitable facilities may apply to become approved tagging sites but are not required to offer this service.

Approved tagging sites are permitted to set their own fees for supplying this service.