Packers

• Encourage your clients to tag their animals for the good of the beef cattle industry.
   
• Record and report any CCIA tag numbers on cattle coming through your premise as required under the National Identification Regulations of the Federal Health of Animals Act.
   
• Record the origin of any untagged cattle and maintain these records for use by CFIA.
   
• There are many styles, sizes and colors of CCIA tags. Approved tags are recognizable by the registered CCIA trademark.
   
• Used tags should not be returned; simply record and report the numbers to CCIA.

Note:

• The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency is an industry conceived, developed and run organization.
   
• The Canadian Cattle Identification Program makes trace back 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).

Important Guidelines for Packing Plants

The Canadian Cattle Identification Program is an industry-led initiative designed to promote beef consumption through assurance of efficient trace back 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 their 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.

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.

• 100% compliance is now mandatory and the 5% slippage rate is no longer in effect.
   
• 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.