Update from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on a revised regulatory approach to the Livestock Traceability Regulations

Jun 09, 2026

Statement

A strong traceability program is critical for rapid identification and containment of animal disease to maintain market access and support the prosperity of the Canadian agricultural sector. Since January 2026, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has been re-engaging industry, associations and governments on its proposed amendments to Part XV (Traceability) of the Health of Animals Regulations (HAR).

Further to this recent feedback, the CFIA is planning to move ahead with updated traceability requirements for goats, sheep, and cervids to bring them in line with requirements similar to cattle and bison. The CFIA will also move forward with updated pig traceability requirements supported by the industry. New movement reporting requirements for cattle and bison will not move forward at this time.

The CFIA will continue to work closely with the cattle sector and other livestock industries through ongoing industry-led forums and discussions. These will inform future plans related to strengthening Canada’s livestock traceability program to protect the health of animals and the long-term viability of our livestock sector.

What is proposed to move forward

The revised proposal will focus on improvements that enhance livestock traceability including:

Giving producers of all regulated parties the option to use provincial premises ID numbers instead of personal contact details when buying tags or reporting events;
Introducing ID requirements for goats and cervids like all regulated species;
Adding event reporting (e.g. slaughter, disposal, import, and export) for goats and cervids like all regulated species;
Requiring slaughter and export reporting for sheep like all regulated species;
Shortening event reporting time requirement from 30 days to 7 days for abattoirs and carcass collection or disposal points for all regulated species; and
Requiring transporters of all regulated species to carry documentation to accompany animals during transport, which most producers and transporters already meet through existing systems such as provincial livestock manifests.

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Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.