Canada Ends Bar Coded Livestock Ear Tags

Reminder to all Canadian cattle producers, Effective July, 1 2010 all cattle and bison must be tagged with the CCIA Approved RFID Ear Tags. Bar coded dangle tags are not to be used any longer. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will be enforcing the new regulations, which had been in effect since January 2009.

The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) had made the official release to the public on May, 31 2010. This applies to Cattle and Bison in Canada, once they leave their farm of origin. All livestock must be tagged with the approved RFID tag, before leaving the premises of the farm.

Canadian cattle producers, had been given a grace period, so they could use their current bar coded livestock ear tags, but now the official notice had been given.

Here is a full list of the CCIA Approved RFID Ear Tags, which is also available at the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency website (http://www.canadaid.com/)

With the full support of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Canada’s livestock industry needs Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), in order to have a fully effective traceability system.

Additional benefits of RFID technology, is the speed and accuracy of identification, which ultimately affects the bottom line of the beef cattle industry, making Canadian cattle more competitive on the world market.

Effective July, 1 2010, all cattle producers must use the mandatory approved RFID ear tags. Bar coded livestock ear tags are no longer to be used.