Ottawa (Rural Roots Canada) – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) says publication of proposed amendments to livestock traceability regulations are being put on hold until industry concerns are better understood.
The move, announced on Saturday, comes after a flurry of concerns raised by producers in recent weeks.
In the statement, the agency acknowledged ongoing public discussion around proposed changes to Part XV (Traceability) of the Health of Animals Regulations. The CFIA confirmed it will pause any further publication of the amendments while consultations continue with producers, industry associations, provincial governments, and other stakeholders.
It also clarified that these amendments are not currently in place and have not been finalized.
CFIA says it remains open to further input and ongoing dialogue, stressing that a credible animal health system is essential for protecting livestock, supporting producers, and enabling trade.
In the statement, the agency emphasized that it remains committed to reducing red tape and modernizing regulations, while ensuring Canada’s animal health system remains effective and practical. CFIA says strong traceability remains a cornerstone of disease response, allowing animals to be tracked through the production system to enable faster, more targeted action when outbreaks occur.
Reaction to the pause has been quick from livestock organizations and politicians.
The CFIA’s statement comes a day after Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation Minister RJ Sigurdson released a statement urging the CFIA to slow down and engage more directly with industry on proposed amendments to federal livestock traceability regulations.
In a social media post after the announcement, Sigurdson says concerns have been heard loud and clear by Federal Agriculture Minister Heath MacDonald.
In a statement, the Canadian Cattle Association says it is pleased with the pause and that concerns had been heard.
The CCA says for most producers, the biggest proposed change is the requirement to report when animals are added to your herd (move-in reporting), which will be required sooner than the current 30 days.
READ MORE: Plateau Cattle Co. Win 2025 ABP Environmental Stewardship Award
According to the CFIA, the proposed amendments are intended to address gaps in the current traceability framework and strengthen Canada’s ability to respond to animal health emergencies, while supporting the competitiveness and long-term stability of the livestock sector. It says industry has been involved in the development of the proposed changes for more than a decade.
Draft regulations were prepublished in Part I of the Canada Gazette in 2023, followed by a 90-day public comment period. In 2024, CFIA released a “What We Heard” report summarizing feedback from producers, industry groups, provinces, and other partners. Engagement has continued since then to ensure the system is workable while maintaining strong animal health protections.
When finalized, CFIA says the regulations would include transition periods to support implementation, including one year for regulated parties before coming into force, followed by a graduated enforcement approach. The agency says guidance, education, and support would be provided throughout the transition.
The Alberta Beef Producers hosted virtual meetings on the changes in December and have shared resources at https://albertabeef.org/proposed-traceability-amendments
Read the full CFIA statement below:
Statement from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency on proposed amendments to livestock traceability regulations
Statement
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is aware of public discussion regarding the proposed amendments to Part XV (Traceability) of the Health of Animals Regulations.
These amendments are not currently in place and have not been finalized. The CFIA has consulted with industry, associations and governments regarding the proposed amendments and will continue to do so. The CFIA will pause any publication of the regulations until the proposed changes are more widely understood and concerns are heard and taken into consideration.
The CFIA is committed to reducing red tape and regulatory reform and is advancing a number of modernization initiatives to support businesses, while ensuring Canada’s animal health system remains effective, practical, and fit for purpose. Animal diseases continue to occur, and when they do, Canada must be able to respond quickly, accurately, and effectively.
Strong traceability is central to that response. A modern, reliable traceability system allows animals to be tracked through the production system, supports faster and more targeted disease response, and helps limit impacts on producers, communities, and trade. It is also an investment made to protect Canadian animal health and respond to disease threats, like foot and mouth disease. In practice, better traceability leads to quicker resolution of disease events, greater certainty for businesses, and stronger confidence in Canada’s livestock system domestically and internationally.
The proposed amendments are intended to close gaps in the current framework and strengthen Canada’s livestock traceability system. This supports effective response to disease events, minimizes economic disruption and helps Canadian producers and processors remain competitive at home and abroad, while supporting long-term economic stability for businesses.
Industry has been closely involved throughout the development of these proposed amendments over the last decade. The draft regulations were pre-published in Part I of the Canada Gazette in 2023, followed by a 90-day public comment period. In 2024, the CFIA published a What We Heard report summarizing feedback from producers, industry associations, provinces, and other partners. Since then, the CFIA has continued engagement with stakeholders so that the system is workable while maintaining strong animal health protections.
When the amendments are published, the regulations will include transition periods to support the implementation process — one year for regulated parties before implementation, followed by a graduated enforcement approach. The CFIA will provide guidance, education, and support throughout this period.
The CFIA values ongoing dialogue with industry and remains open to input. Maintaining an excellent, credible animal health system is essential to protecting livestock, supporting producers, and enabling trade.
