FAQs: What proposed updates mean for producers

After years of planning and preparation, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is expecting to publish the final version of proposed amendments to Part XV of the Health of Animals Act in 2026. 

To help clarify what’s coming and what it means for you, we’ve compiled a few answers to some of the most frequently asked questions we’re hearing. 

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Will I have to change when I tag cattle?  

There is no required time to tag cattle. The proposed requirement is that all cattle must be identified with a CCIA tag before leaving the farm of origin, unless they are being taken to an approved identification site (like an auction market or feedlot) to be tagged. This is not different from how things are today. 

If they are taken to an approved identification site and don’t already have a CCIA tag, you will have to supply that site with tags assigned to your PID to apply on your behalf.   

Watch: Regulatory proposal at a glance (CFIA)

What if an animal is missing a tag when it arrives on my operation?  

You will have to apply a new tag associated with your PID to that animal as soon as practical after arrival and report the tag number of the new tag and your PID within 7 days after application. If known, you should also report the previous tag number, the PID of where that animal previously came from, and the license plate number, including province/territory/state of the truck that delivered the animal.  

Will I have to have a separate PID for each pasture?  

No. One PID can be associated with multiple land locations, if desired, or can just be associated with the main location (home quarter).  

Different provinces may have slightly different PID requirements, so contact your Agriculture Ministry if you have further questions.  

Will I have to report every time I move an animal within my own operation?  

No. The updated reporting requirement will be applied to new animals that are moved onto an operation (move-in).  

You will not be required to report the departure of cattle from your site, unless you are taking them to a community pasture, veterinary clinic, or an event like a cattle show or rodeo.  

You will not have to report movements to pasture leases, unless cattle from different owners are commingled on that lease.  

What move-in information will I have to provide?  

Move-in information proposed: 

• PID of departure site (provided by transporter)  
• PID of your site  
• Date cattle departed and arrived (provided by transporter)  
• Individual tag numbers of the cattle arriving at your site  
• License plate number, including province/territory state, of the truck that delivered the cattle (provided by transporter)  

What about community pastures?  

Producers using community pastures will have to report both the departure and return of their animals with the following information:  

• PID of each site  
• Date cattle departed and arrived  
• The number of cattle 
• License plate number, including province/territory/state, of the truck that delivered the cattle  

Watch: Movement of cattle to a community pasture (group movement)

How will it work at auction markets?  

When you deliver cattle to an auction market, the auction will need to report the arrival of your cattle and the information below. They are not going to be required to report individual tag numbers. 

• PID of departure site (provided by transporter)  
• PID of auction site 
• Date cattle departed and arrived (provided by transporter) 
• The number of cattle 
• License plate number, including province/territory/state, of the truck that delivered the cattle (provided by transporter) 

If you are delivering your own cattle, you would provide your PID, the date you loaded and delivered, and your license plate information to the auction. In Alberta, you can already include this information on the manifest. 

What about vet clinics or cattle shows?  

The requirements regarding who reports movements to cattle shows and fairs has been adjusted based on feedback received during the consultation. Producers will be required to report animal departures to fairs, rodeos, cattle shows, and veterinary clinics, as well as when the animals return home. However, both departure and returning movements can be reported at the same time (e.g., within seven days of the show concluding). 

What if an animal dies on my operation?  

Movement requirements will apply to carcasses as well.

• If a carcass leaves the farm for disposal, such as by a deadstock removal service, this will need to be reported with the tag number by the disposal site operator.
• If the carcass is disposed of on-farm, the tag will need to be retired. 
• If the animal that died had not been tagged and died on the farm of origin, no reporting is expected to be required. 

No reporting is proposed for carcasses from animals less than three months of age. 

Who has access to the information stored in CLTS?  

You, as the CLTS account holder, are the only one that can access your data, unless you grant a third-party access to your account.  CLTS is managed by CCIA and is not a government database. 

Authorized CFIA/provincial government personnel can only access CLTS data in the event of an investigation, including reportable disease outbreaks, disease surveillance, or another emergency.  During an investigation, business information is kept strictly confidential. 

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