Since July 2014 shippers and receivers of swine within Canada have been required to report movements of those animals to the PigTrace Canada database within 7 days.
The Canadian Food inspection Agency has now introduced a fine structure for non-compliance.
Jeff Clark, the Manager of PigTrace Canada, an initiative of the Canadian Pork Council, says enforcement has been ongoing and is not expected to become any more strict.
“Mostly it's taken an educational approach,” Clark told FarmScape.ca during his online interview. ”If there's repeat offences and people are just being stubborn CFIA will issue letters of non-compliance to have a written record of it.”
Now that there is a verifiable fine structure, CFIA wants to stress it is not intended to be used liberally. “It will be used as a last resort if people are being stubborn and there's repeat non-compliance with a history of written notices,” Clark explains. “Then a fine could be issued.”
There is anxiety and concern among producers in the industry over the recent announcement and splashy media reporting also got people up in arms. Clark spoke to FarmScape in order to set the record straight and reiterate credibility in the system.
“We've talked to producers who are saying I'm doing this, my neighbor's not, why should I do it if there's no penalty for my neighbor?” Clark said. ”But now there is a potential penalty. Pretty well all of the infractions are minor offenses, but pork producers should know that if you don't identify a pig properly, if you don't report the movement within seven days, then that dollar amount is $1300.00.
Clark emphasized an individual would have to pretty stubborn and have a number of repeat offences before actually being fined.
Source: Meatbusiness