British Columbians who own or care for livestock are required to register their premises as of July 1, 2022, to support the Province’s emergency response network.
“Participation in the premises ID program helps B.C. farmers and ranchers protect their animals, support the health of their farming community and be better prepared during an emergency that affects them,” said Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture and Food. “The program has been very effective in helping first responders, livestock owners and communities respond to animal disease events and natural disasters, such as the wildfires and flooding we’ve seen over the past year, and in an emergency, we need everyone on board.”
Premises ID is used to support farmers and operators in an emergency. Farms with a registered premises ID may receive notification when there is an emergency in their area, such as a natural disaster or animal disease outbreak. For example, poultry farmers are being informed of highly pathogenic avian influenza cases within 10 kilometres of their property.
The program is also used for recovery planning, such as identifying premises with animals that might need relocation, feed or water, as seen during November 2021 flooding in the Fraser Valley.