聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Saskatchewan producers will now be required to take part in a program to prevent the spread of animal diseases.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Government of Saskatchewan announced changes to Saskatchewan鈥檚 Premises Identification (PID) program on January 12. PID is a key traceability tool to plan for, control and prevent the spread of animal diseases and to respond to other emergencies, said a release from the Ministry of Agriculture.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Participation in the PID program is now mandatory for all Saskatchewan producers. Over the coming months, Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture livestock programs will request that all applicants have a PID number to participate.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淭he federal government proudly supports a healthy, sustainable and robust agriculture industry,鈥� said Lawrence MacAulay, federal minister of agriculture and agri-food. 鈥淭hese new requirements will help Saskatchewan producers protect the health of their livestock, as well as their farm businesses.鈥�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 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� said Lyle Stewart, Saskatchewan minister of agriculture. 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�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The voluntary PID program was launched in June 2014 and currently has fewer than 3,000 livestock and poultry producers, veterinarians, feedlots, and other livestock commingling sites enrolled. 聽Requiring a PID number for program eligibility will help the province reach full PID participation and make an effective disease control program. 聽Manitoba and Alberta have similar regulations that mandate enrollment in PID programs.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 鈥淚 want to make sure I鈥檓 in the best position possible to protect my cattle if a disease outbreak happens,鈥� said Rick Toney, vice-chair of Saskatchewan Cattlemen鈥檚 Association. 聽鈥淭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�
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The PID database will be 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. Information on registrants is private and only to be used in emergencies.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Saskatchewan PID database is funded through Growing Forward 2, which is a cost-shared partnership between federal, provincial and territorial governments used to support an innovative, competitive and profitable Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Producers who wish to find more information on PID may visit and search 鈥淧remises Identification.鈥� Registration can be completed online.
