New livestock traceability rules set to roll out

New federal traceability rules are coming for 2026 and producers should start preparing now, says the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA).

The federal government is moving ahead with proposed changes to Canada’s livestock traceability rules.

Amendments to Part XV of the Health of Animals Regulations are expected to be published in Canada Gazette Part II in spring 2026.

The anticipated changes would expand traceability requirements and introduce mandatory livestock movement reporting across several species. The changes are aimed at closing long-standing gaps in Canada’s traceability system, including incomplete species coverage and inconsistent reporting.

Under the proposal, traceability requirements would extend to goats and cervids, alongside existing regulated species such as beef cattle, bison and sheep. The amendments would also require all sites that handle livestock to have an up-to-date Premises Identification Number (PID) and report all animal movements using those PIDs.

New CLTS tools released ahead of regulation
To support the transition, CCIA has launched a new movement record module in the Canadian Livestock Tracking System (CLTS). The feature is already live, giving producers a chance to adjust to the new workflow before the regulatory deadline.