Big Lakes County Council has formally expressed its opposition to proposed amendments to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s livestock traceability regulations, citing concerns about increased costs, enforcement challenges, and impacts on agricultural producers.
The amendments, which fall under Part XV of the Health of Animals Regulations, were pre-published by the CFIA in 2023 and opened to a 90-day public consultation. A summary of feedback was released in 2024, with final regulations expected in early 2026. The proposals have since faced widespread opposition from agricultural organizations, municipalities, and producer groups across Canada.
Among the proposed changes are expanded traceability requirements, shorten reporting timelines for livestock movements to seven days, and require producers to include premises identification numbers when animals are bought, sold, or moved.
Big Lakes County has sent letters to Alberta ministers, Health Canada, and more than 20 boards and agricultural associations, calling for reconsideration of the amendments and a review of the consultation and enforcement processes used by the CFIA.
“Big Lakes County is proud to support our agricultural producers, who play a vital role in our local economy and in Canada’s food security,” said Reeve Tyler Airth. “Council is concerned these changes would place unnecessary financial and operational burdens on producers, particularly small and locally focused operations.”
In its correspondence, the County raised concerns about the adequacy of consultations, the feasibility of enforcing the new requirements, and the cumulative effect of regulatory changes on an industry already facing rising costs. Council also noted that Canada’s livestock sector already maintains strong animal health standards and that existing traceability systems have been effective in managing disease risks.
Big Lakes County is urging federal officials to reconsider the proposed amendments and pursue policies that balance animal health and food safety objectives with the realities faced by agricultural producers. The County says it will continue advocating alongside other municipalities and industry stakeholders to ensure producer concerns are heard.
Keith Hopper, Trending 55
