4-H Clubs

• The exemptions for exhibition sites has been eliminated. All cattle leaving the herd of origin must be tagged even if it is returning to its herd of origin.
   
• Encourage your exhibitors to tag their animals for the good of the beef cattle industry.
   
• You may apply to become an approved tagging site and/or dealer of tags.
   
• Under no circumstance should a CCIA tag be removed from an animal that is already tagged.
   
• Livestock judges should be instructed to judge the animal and ignore the absence or presence of the CCIA tag.
   
• CCIA tags must not be re-used.
   
• If you apply a CCIA tag to an animal that already has one, you must report the cross-referenced numbers to the CCIA.
   

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).
  
  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.

Information for 4-H Clubs and Members

This information is based on Section 183 (2) of the Canadian Health of Animals Regulations.

The Canadian Cattle Identification Program came into effect January 1, 2001. All cattle are to be ear tagged with a CCIA-approved tag by the time they leave their herd of origin. This will speed up traceback of serious animal health or food concerns, allowing the problem to be contained and eliminated far faster than is possible without individual identification.

All cattle moving beyond their herd of origin must be tagged with a CCIA-approved tag (beef cattle) or an NLID-approved EZE-IR tag (dairy cattle). After July 1 2001 any animal that leaves any herd must bear an official tag and packing plants must start to read these tags and maintain the ID number to the point of carcass inspection. Monetary penalties come into effect July 1, 2002.

Tagging Options

4-H members may purchase their own CCIA tags in their own name or use tags purchased by a parent, so long as the 4-H member’s animal is being raised at the same location as the parent’s herd. If animals are run together 4-H members do not need their own PIN number and may use their parent's existing PIN number. Beef tags are available through retailers of farm products, veterinarians, and other local organizations. Tags for dairy cattle may be ordered from National Livestock Identification, Box 610 Brantford ON, N3T 5R4.

If an animal is bought that already has a CCIA-approved tag, that tag must not be removed. If an animal that is not yet tagged is purchased it must be tagged by the purchaser before it leaves his or her herd. It’s advisable to keep a record of the name and address of the producer from whom the animal was purchased. If a previously tagged animal loses a tag it must be re-tagged and a record kept of the information known about the animal, such as previous tag number (if known) or previous owner.

If a Provincial 4-H Council or a local 4-H Club wishes to distribute tags to its members the organization should contact the CCIA to make the necessary arrangements and be advised of the requirements. If undertaken, this initiative would not prevent the 4-H member from purchasing his or her own tags as described above.

4-H has the option of making the CCIA tag and individual ID number a standard identifier for Market 4-H Beef Project Animals. This could eliminate the need for a separate 4-H tag.

Weigh-in sites may register with CCIA as an approved tagging site. If this is done, untagged cattle may be brought to the site and tagged with a CCIA-approved tag at weigh-in. If an animal is already tagged with an approved tag any other identification required by the 4-H program may be applied, however a second CCIA-approved tag should not be used.

Effective early 2004 the exemptions for exhibition sites were eliminated. Animals that leave their herd of origin to go to a livestock show, exhibition, community pasture, or test station, and that will return to their original herd, need to be tagged provided that the show, exhibition, community pasture or test station has previously registered with CCIA as an approved tagging site.

If an animal is to be sold following a show, exhibition, test or from a community pasture it must be tagged with an approved tag prior to passing into the hands of the new owner.