Livestock Dealers

• Encourage your clients to tag their animals for the good of the beef cattle industry.
   
• When you purchase untagged cattle you are responsible for tagging them prior to their leaving your possession. Record the origin of the cattle in your own records.
   
• Animals that have lost tags must be re-tagged before they permanently leave your possession.
   
• Keep a record of the ID number of animals that have been re-tagged after losing a tag, along with any information about their origin.
   
• You may apply to become an approved tagging site and/or dealer of tags.
   
• Tags should be applied according to manufacturer’s directions.
   
• Under no circumstance should a CCIA tag be removed from an animal that is already tagged.
   
• If you apply a CCIA tag to an animal that already has one, you must report the cross-referenced numbers to the CCIA.
   
• CCIA tags must not be re-used.

Note:

• The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency is an industry conceived, developed and run organization.
   
• The Canadian Cattle Identification Program makes traceback and containment of serious animal health and food safety problems faster and more efficient, which helps keep customers buying Canadian beef and cattle.
   
• This program is regulated and enforced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
   
• As of July 1, 2001 all cattle permanently leaving from any point beyond their herd of origin must be tagged.
   
• After July 1, 2002 monetary penalties will be imposed for untagged cattle.

Important Guidelines for Livestock Dealers

The Canadian Cattle Identification Program is an industry-led initiative designed to promote beef consumption through assurance of efficient traceback and containment of serious animal health and food safety problems. The program is regulated and enforced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

September 1, 2006
All cattle leaving tehir herd of origin must 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.

January 1, 2005
CCIA moves to RFID tags ( Radio Frequency Identification).
Bar coded tags will be grandfathered.

July 1, 2001
All cattle permanently leaving the herd of origin or any point beyond herd of origin must be tagged.

July 1, 2002
Monetary penalties will begin for non-compliance.

NO PERSON SHALL TRANSPORT, OR CAUSE THE TRANSPORTATION OF, RECEIVE, OR CAUSE THE RECEPTION OF, AN ANIMAL THAT DOES NOT BEAR AN APPROVED TAG, except to an approved tagging site

• You may apply to become an approved tagging site, and/or dealer of tags.
   
• 100% compliance is now mandatory and the 5% slippage rate is no longer in effect.
   
• If you are an approved Tagging Facility all untagged animals must be tagged upon arrival.
   
• CFIA staff have the authority to carry out random checks of cattle on your premises and may request to see your records.
   
• CCIA tags must not be removed from an animal unless the number has been retired from the CCIA database as in the case of its death.
   
• CCIA tags must not be re-used. Avoid writing on the tag’s bar code, as this will make it unreadable. Do not use tattoo ink to write on tags as it will cause the tags to curl.
   
• There are many styles, sizes and colours of CCIA tags. All approved tags are recognizable by the registered CCIA trademark.