Feds invest in new national traceability system
By Food in Canada magazine staff
Business Operations Food Safety Canadian Cattle Identification AgencyThe federal government is helping to build a national traceability system for all species in Canada to help trace information and protect bottom lines for all animal producers
Calgary, Alta. – Canada will build a single national livestock traceability system with the help of an investment from the federal government.
The feds announced the Canadian Agri-Traceability Services (CATS) on July 13 at the Calgary Stampede.
The system will have robust data management capabilities. It will also bring together the combined experience of the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) and Agri-Traçabilité Québec (ATQ) to reduce costs and simplify data reporting.
Once established, the new independent CATS organization will provide traceability data services for the CCIA, ATQ and other stakeholders.
The federal government is providing $500,000 to create the single data system and $265,000 to help the CCIA and ATQ improve their data management capabilities.
The CCIA and ATQ have set up a joint project steering committee to guide the creation of the new integrated data service.
Steve Primrose, a member of the steering committee who is also a cow/calf operator, livestock dealer, and exporter, says the stakeholders are pleased with the move.
“…A multi-species traceability system will allow Canada to manage risk proactively and respond to demands from governments and buyers for demonstrable assurances on food safety and biosecurity,” says Primrose, who is also a board member with the Canadian Livestock Dealers Association and past chair of the CCIA board of directors.
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