Cypress County council has sent a letter to the province's agriculture minister asking the government not to adopt new livestock traceability regulations proposed by the CFIA.--NEWS PHOTO ANNA SMITH
Cypress County has sent a letter urging the provincial government to reconsider proposed amendments to livestock traceability regulations, citing concern regarding undue pressure on producers.
These amendments from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which are not yet implemented, will require expanded movement reporting requirements, shortened reporting timelines and enhanced premises identification obligations.
Producers will need to report on the arrival of cattle to their farm, ranch or feedlot within seven days, as well as report on all movement to community pastures, veterinary clinics, fairs and exhibitions, or assembly points, as well as departure from these places, within the same time frame.
Abattoirs must also report on the arrival of cattle at their operation within seven days of slaughter, death or arrival.
Current reporting requirements for abattoirs is 30 days.
Movement within the farm to grazing sites with no co-mingling and departures to sites outside those listed will not need to be reported. Births and deaths will also not need to be reported, but the disposal of tagged cattle would have its reporting requirements shortened to within seven days.
Reports will require the premises identification of both the farm and the other relevant site, as well as either the identification numbers on the tags of the cattle or the number of cattle involved, depending on the movement event. A full list of proposed amendments is available on the inspection.canada.ca website.
Cypress County’s letter, addressed to Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation RJ Sigurdson, expressed that it is “a predominately agricultural municipality with a strong cattle producing base,” and while council recognizes the importance of livestock traceability for animal health, disease response and food safety, it opposes the amendments on the grounds that they create significant additional administrative cost and strain on producers without evidence of necessity.
Concerns surrounded putting enforcement pressure onto producers and rural municipalities, as well as the fact concerns were shared by several producer organizations. The letter requests current amendments as proposed be withdrawn and for future changes to be co-developed closely with those effected.
The letter further expresses council’s eagerness for continued dialogue on the subject.
