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Two new acts for the new year

The Livestock Identification and Commerce Act and the Animal Health Act come into effect on January 1, 2009

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The Livestock Identification and Commerce Act and the Animal Health Act come into effect on January 1, 2009.

Livestock Identification and Commerce Act - following extensive consultations with the agriculture industry, regulations under the Act (LICA), have been developed. The Act and regulations that will come into effect on January 1, 2009 will help the day-to-day commerce of the livestock industry operate in a more consistent and efficient manner.

The LICA consolidates, clarifies, streamlines and modernizes three existing acts - the Brand Act, the Livestock Identification and Brand Inspection Act and the Livestock and Livestock Products Act. LICA received Royal Assent on May 24, 2006. The livestock industry will see changes such as mandatory livestock security interest disclosures, greater protection for personal property in livestock, and standardized documentation.

Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development and Livestock Identification Services (LIS) jointly developed the Act and the LICA general regulation.

Animal Health Act (AHA) - Alberta’s primary animal disease control legislation, and three new regulations reflect the needs of today’s livestock industry, Alberta’s reliance on access to international markets and the need for animal disease control and surveillance.

It replaces the Livestock Diseases Act, which was established in 1946. The AHA provides for a rapid and effective response to an animal disease outbreak, and enhances market access, public health and food safety through rigorous disease control measures.

The three new AHA regulations being enacted on January 1, 2009, are:

1.Traceability Livestock Identification regulation

2.Traceability Premises Identification regulation

3.Reportable and Notifiable Diseases regulation

The Traceability Livestock Identification and Traceability Premises Identification regulations provide a method for tracking the current and historical location of an animal or group of animals from one point in the supply chain to another. The regulations also address mandatory age verification for cattle born on or after January 1, 2009, and are designed to ensure an appropriate response to an animal health emergency.

Reportable diseases are those that may pose a significant public or animal health risk and require immediate action to control or eradicate. Diseases designated as notifiable are monitored for trade purposes or to understand their cause and control.

For a list of reportable and notifiable animal diseases and additional information on the Animal Health Act, visit Ropin’ the Web at www.agric.gov.ab.ca and click on Alberta’s Reportable and Notifiable Diseases under Livestock and Meat Industry.

Further information on the Livestock Identification and Commerce Act and the Animal Health Act is available on Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development’s website at www.agriculture.alberta.ca, or by calling Dr. Gerald Ollis, chief provincial veterinarian, Alberta Agriculture and Rural Development at 780-427-6406 or the Ag-Info Centre toll-free in Alberta at 310-FARM (3276).