The purpose of the AHA and its regulations is to minimize the impact of animal diseases in agricultural animals in Alberta and to enhance market access, public health and food safety through effective disease control measures.
On January 1, 2009, three new regulations will also come into effect:
- Reportable and Notifiable Diseases Regulation;
- Traceability Premises Identification Regulation; and
- Traceability Livestock Identification Regulation.
Reportable and Notifiable Diseases Regulation
This regulation designates certain diseases as Reportable, meaning they are threats to market access, the economy and/or animal or public health. Occurrences of these diseases require immediate action to control or eradicate them.Diseases designated as Notifiable will be monitored for trade purposes, or to understand their dynamics/epidemiology in Alberta. No actions will be taken.
Click here for a list of Alberta’s Reportable and Notifiable disease on the Alberta Agriculture site.
Anyone who knows or ought to know of a suspect or confirmed case of a Reportable or Notifiable disease must report that fact to the Chief Provincial Veterinarian within 24 hours by calling 1-800-524-0051.
Traceability
Traceability means the ability to trace the current and historical location of an animal, group of animals or animal products from one point in the supply chain to another. The three pillars of traceability systems are: 1) premises identification, 2) animal identification, and 3) animal movement tracking.An effective traceability system is key to being able to respond quickly and appropriately to an animal health emergency. The ability to react quickly and effectively to disease outbreaks allows us to minimize the economic impact, maintain global market access, reduce costs to industry and government and minimize the potential impact on animal and public health.
Traceability Premises Identification Regulation
Obligations under the Traceability Premises Identification regulation include:- Animal owners must apply for a premises identification account and at least one premises identification number within 30 days of assuming ownership of an animal (except household pets).
- Operators of commingling sites (including feedlots, auction markets, abattoirs, veterinary clinics, etc.) must apply for a premises identification account and at least one premises identification number for each commingling site operated within 30 days of assuming ownership or operation of the commingling site.
- For the complete list of animal species and commingling sites included in this regulation, go to: www.qp.gov.ab.ca/documents/orders/orders_in_council/2008/1208/2008_563.html
Applications and more information are available at www.agriculture.alberta.ca/premises or by calling the Ag Info Centre at 310-FARM (3276).
Traceability Livestock Identification Regulation
Under the Traceability Livestock Identification regulation, owners of cattle born on or after January 1, 2009 must:
- Tag animals and report the required information into the Canadian Livestock Tracking System:
- within 8 months of the birthing start date, which is the date of birth of the first calf born as part of a herd where the actual birth date of each calf is unknown; or within 90 days of the actual birth date of each animal; or before the animal leaves the farm of origin, whichever comes first.
- * Keep on-farm records, including: Premises identification number; Tag number; Birth date; and Method of how birth date was determined (actual birth date OR birthing start date)
These records must be provided to the Minister, if requested.
Feedlot owners must record and report:
- the feedlot’s premises identification number, and
- the tag number for each head of livestock that moves into or out of the feedlot within seven days, except for cattle moving out directly to an abattoir for slaughter.
For a copy of the complete Traceability Livestock Identification regulation, go to: www.qp.gov.ab.ca/documents/orders/orders_in_council/2008/1208/2008_562.html
For more information on the Animal Health Act, or its regulations, contact the Office of the Chief Provincial Veterinarian at (780) 427-3448 or toll-free by first dialing 310-0000.