Notice to Industry

Notice to Industry
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON IMPORT PERMIT AND EXPORT CERTIFICATE
OTTAWA, July 22, 2010: As of September 1, importers and exporters of cattle, bison and sheep will be asked to provide their Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) or Agri-Traçabilité Québec (ATQ) database account number on animal health export certificates and import permits.

Adding the database account number to import permits and export certificates will enhance Canada’s ability to track animals entering or leaving the country. Having access to accurate, upto-date information in emergency situations is important because it can reduce response time, thus limiting the economic, environmental and social impacts of the situation.

The Government of Canada is committed to protecting the health and safety of livestock and the food supply through proper animal identification. Tagging and traceability are key components of Canada’s national strategy to protect animal health.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), CCIA and ATQ are working together to promote consistent data collection and retention. Producers can contact the CCIA at 1-877-909-2333 or the ATQ at 1-866-270-4319 for their database account number. Under the Health of Animals Regulations, parties subject to part XV of the requirements are required to report livestock identification information to the CCIA or ATQ.
In doing so, each of the regulated parties receives a CCIA and/or ATQ database account number.

For more information on traceability in Canada, please contact the CFIA at 1-800-442-2342 or visit www.inspection.gc.ca. You can also contact the following organizations:
Canadian Cattle Identification Agency
Telephone: 1-877-909-2333, 403-275-2083
Internet: www.canadaid.com
Agri-Traçabilité Québec
Telephone: 1-866-270-4319; 450-677-1757
Internet: www.agri-tracabilite.qc.ca

Advance Payments Program

The Advance Payments Program (APP) provides producers with a cash advance on the value of their agricultural products during a specified period. By improving their cash flow throughout the year, the APP helps crop and livestock producers meet their financial obligations and benefit from the best market conditions.

Under the APP the federal government guarantees repayment of cash advances issued to farmers by the producer organization. These guarantes help the producer organization borrow money from financial institutions at lower interest rates and issue producers a cash advance on the anticipated value of their farm product that is being produced and/or that is in storage.

The APP is accessed through producer organizations that administer the program through an agreement with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) and a designated lending institution.

For more information see : www.agr.gc.ca Advance Payments Program.