050604 Canada Moves Forward With Cattle Tracking System

Ottawa, Ontario, Canada - The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Andy Mitchell today announced $1.8 million in Government of Canada funding towards the Canadian Radio Frequency Identification (CRFID) Reader Program.

The Canadian Radio Frequency Identification (CRFID) Reader Program will improve the tracking and tracing of cattle beyond the farm gate using radio frequency identification (RFID) reader technology. The objective of the program is to ensure that industry stakeholders such as registered slaughter and processing plants, sales barns, auction markets, stockyards, veterinarians, universities, pathology labs, mobile butchers and deadstock operators have the necessary equipment to fully participate in Canada's cattle tracking and tracing initiatives.

"The Government of Canada remains committed to working with industry to ensure the safe and efficient management of the cattle sector," said Minister Mitchell. "Enhancing our national tracking and tracing system will not only strengthen Canada's competitive advantage, but will further support our efforts to produce safe, high-quality products."

Under the CRFID reader program, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada will provide funding assistance to eligible applicants to purchase approved RFID readers. These readers will allow participants to receive and transmit RFID tag information to computer based equipment which will enable electronic transfer of cattle identification information to the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) and Agri-Traçabilitié Québec (ATQ).

The Canadian Cattle industry is currently accelerating the development of a comprehensive tracking and tracing system. Information on the tracking of beef and dairy cattle, sheep and bison is managed in Quebec by ATQ and in all other provinces by the CCIA. The CCIA is in the process of updating their existing system for cattle to a RFID tag system capable of recording livestock animal movements. These RFID tags are currently mandatory in Quebec and the CCIA is working to ensure that the RFID tags are mandatory in the rest of Canada.

By strengthening its cattle tracking and tracing system, Canada has demonstrated to Canadian consumers and world markets a commitment that ensures the health of Canadian cattle and the safety of its livestock production.

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