Pork Becoming Traceability Leader

The pork industry has caught up with other sectors of Canadian agriculture in the development of traceability systems, says Clare Schlegel. “We’re as advanced as any commodity in Canada,” says the Ontario pig farmer and chairman of the Canadian Pork Council’s ID & Traceability Working Committee. The federal and provincial governments have agreed to have

CCIA To Test Radio Tags In Auctions

“We are really excited with the broad cross-section of markets in our project.” – DONNA HENUSET The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) has launched its Auction Market Applied Research Project to evaluate multiple Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems at auction markets across Canada with support from the federal government’s Growing Forward program. The work will


National Approach To Traceability Urged

“Right now it’s everybody’s and nobody’s responsibility.” – Ed Tyrchniewicz Anew report for a federal advisory committee strongly urges a coordinated national approach to implementing food traceability in Canada. The report recommends establishing a national institute for research and development in food traceability. It also calls for a Canada-wide value chain approach to sharing the

Ottawa Won’t Budge On Traceability Deadline

The Canadian government will not change its 2011 target date for mandatory cattle traceability, even though producers say it’s not achievable. “If we don’t have a target, it’ll never happen,” Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz told the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association national convention here. “The date is there. It is solid. We’re firm on it. We’re looking


On-Farm Food Safety Is Crucial, MPs Say

They quarrelled on many issues, but the MPs on the Commons food safety subcommittee agreed an effective food safety system has to begin on the farm. The committee reported to Parliament in mid-June with the Conservative MPs offering 22 recommendations and the opposition parties 14 proposals. The only idea that was immediately rejected by Agriculture

Traceability Important But Elusive

Earlier this month, Keystone Agricultural Producers attended a research and development conference for agriculture and food traceability. Trace R&D was hosted by the University of Manitoba and it focused on examining traceability technology and looking into a national traceability research strategy. A considerable portion of the event highlighted perspectives on traceability from different points in


Traceability Announcement Concerns CCA

“We need a national program.” – JOE BOUCHARD, MCPA The Canadian Cattlemen’s Association is concerned about a national livestock traceability program announced last week by the federal government. CCA worries the mandatory program, to be effective by 2011, will saddle financially stressed producers with more regulations and added costs without financial benefits. Ottawa announced $20

Farm To Fork Traceability Not In Demand: Grocery Official

“I don’t see it being asked for where it’s not required.” – DAVID WI LKES, CANADIAN COUNCIL OF GROCERY DISTRIBUTORS The need for full traceability systems to track food from the store back to the farm may not be as urgent as generally thought, according to a retail food industry official. Consumers are certainly concerned


Full Livestock Traceability Getting Closer

Sale barns and livestock transporters remain the main hurdles to a fully functioning beef traceability system, according to Steve Primrose, the chairman of the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency. “We need to sell a national traceability program because it will open up niche markets,” he told the annual meeting of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. “When we

Cattle Going To Alberta Need Age Verification

Manitoba cattle producers are being told to swallow their resentment and follow new livestock guidelines set in Alberta if they want to sell calves there. That includes age verifying animals as required by a new Alberta meat and livestock strategy. The $356 million program announced last year requires a mandatory traceability system for livestock in