Update on Proposed Amendments to the Health of Animals Regulations

Written By Shawn M. Munro and Murray G. Coleman

On March 1, 2018, there was a regulatory update to the Livestock Identification and Traceability Program. This update provides an overview of the progress for the proposed amendments to Part XV of the federal Health of Animals Regulations.

Consultations with industry and provinces in 2013 and 2015 identified some gaps and opportunities to improve the livestock traceability system in Canada. Some of the changes under the proposed amendments are:

• The domestic movements of animals for all regulated species will be required to be reported, with some exemptions.
• The allowable time to report the movement or death of animals to the responsible administrator will be reduced to 7 days from 30 days.
• Certain information will be required to accompany a load of animals and/or animal carcasses being transported; not applicable to species where similar provincial requirements already exist.
• Persons who own or care for livestock will be required to provide the premises identification number for the location where approved indicators are applied. Should the animals be moved to a new location, the premises identification number for the destination location will also need to be provided; a premises already identified by a provincial or territorial government will not be required to be re-identified.
• Identification requirements are specified for goat, farmed deer, and elk, thus, broadening the scope of activities and animals subject to traceability requirements.

The proposed regulations are expected to be published in spring or fall 2018 in Part I of the Canada Gazette, following which, stakeholders will have 75 days to review and provide comment. After reviewing and considering all comments received, the finalized regulations will be published in Part II of the Canada Gazette and will come into force immediately.

Leading up to the publication of Part I, a Regulatory Implementation Committee made up of different industry-government bodies¹ will be in communications with regulated parties to help prepare for a smooth implementation of the amendments.

¹ Agri-Traçabilité Québec, Canadian Bison Association, Canadian Cattlemen's Association, Canadian Cervid Alliance, Canadian National Goat Federation, Canadian Pork Council/PigTrace, Canadian Sheep Federation, Dairy Farmers of Canada, the provincial governments of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.