Canadian Cattle Association not supportive of proposed traceability regulations

Apr 01, 2026

The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) announced its official stance on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's proposed changes to the identifications and traceability regulations.

In a statement, the CCA said it does not support proceeding with the proposed amendments to Part XV of the Health of Animals Regulations, based on extensive engagement with producers and input from provincial beef organizations.

However, the group noted it supports livestock traceability in general as a "core pillar of disease preparedness, market access and confidence in Canadian beef."

"What I can say is we've definitely heard from producers and their concerns and develop policy recognizing those concerns to communicate to government on our stance of the regulations as proposed," said Andrea Brocklebank, CEO of the CCA. "And I think with that, it's important for us to, we've really recognized the need to work with the provinces on this and also ensure that we have greater clarification. There's been a lot of misinformation and or misinterpretation, so moving forward...we're also striking a task force to better navigate this as we entertain conversations with producers and the government."

The CCA says the Task Force will work on producers' behalf to create a "risk-based, industry-led approach to disease preparedness and emergency management."

Click here to see more...

Video: What Does 20 MILLION Hogs a Year Look Like?

?? The Multi-Plant System Processing 20 Million Hogs Annually in the Midwest JBS USA operates multiple large-scale pork processing facilities across the Midwest, including major plants in Iowa, Minnesota, and Indiana. Combined, these facilities have the capacity to process approximately 20 million hogs annually.

Each plant operates high-speed automated slaughter systems capable of processing up to 20,000 head per day, followed by fabrication lines that break carcasses into primals, sub-primals, and case-ready retail products.

Hog procurement is coordinated through electronic marketing platforms that connect regional contract finishing operations and independent producers to plant demand schedules. This digital procurement system allows for steady supply flow and scheduling efficiency across multiple facilities.

Processing plants incorporate comprehensive food safety systems, including pathogen intervention technologies, rapid chilling processes, and integrated cold-chain management. USDA inspection is embedded throughout the harvest and fabrication stages to ensure regulatory compliance and product integrity. Finished pork products — from bulk primals to retail-ready packaged cuts — are distributed through coordinated logistics networks serving domestic and export markets.