Recently, the Government of Saskatchewan announced changes to Saskatchewan鈥檚 Premises Identification (PID) program, a key traceability tool to plan for, control and prevent the spread of animal diseases and to respond to other emergencies.
Participation in the PID program will now be a requirement for Saskatchewan producers.聽 Over the coming months, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture livestock programs will begin requiring applicants have a PID number to participate.
鈥淭he federal government proudly supports a healthy, sustainable and robust agriculture industry,鈥� Federal Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Lawrence MacAulay said. 鈥淭hese new requirements will help Saskatchewan producers protect the health of their livestock, as well as their farm businesses.鈥�
鈥淎s one of the three pillars of traceability, Premises Identification is an important part of ensuring the health and safety of our province鈥檚 livestock,鈥� Saskatchewan Minister of Agriculture Lyle Stewart said. 鈥淲ith a full PID database, we鈥檒l be in a better position to prevent or respond to an animal disease outbreak or natural disaster.鈥�
Saskatchewan鈥檚 voluntary PID program was launched in June 2014.聽 Currently, less than 3,000 of the province鈥檚 livestock and poultry producers, veterinarians, feedlots, and other livestock commingling sites are enrolled. Requiring a PID number for program eligibility will help the province reach full PID participation, which is necessary to make the system effective.聽 Manitoba and Alberta have similar regulations that mandate enrollment in their PID programs.
鈥淚 want to make sure I鈥檓 in the best position possible to protect my cattle if a disease outbreak happens,鈥� Saskatchewan Cattlemen鈥檚 Association Vice-Chair Rick Toney said.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 why registering for a PID number just made sense; it was an easy way to make sure my cattle would be safe in an emergency.鈥�
An effective PID database is used to plan and implement emergency responses in the case of an animal health concern, a public health emergency, or an emergency such as a natural disaster that affects animals and people.聽 Registrants鈥� information will be kept private and only used in such emergencies.
The Saskatchewan PID database is funded through Growing Forward 2, a cost-shared partnership between federal, provincial and territorial governments designed to support an innovative, competitive and profitable Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector.
For more information on PID, visit www.saskatchewan.ca and search 鈥淧remises Identification.鈥澛� Registration can be completed online at .
