Understanding the Need for a National Identification Program
by Jennifer Vollmar, Executive Director

What is the Canadian Sheep Identification Program (CSIP)
The Canadian Sheep Identification Program is an industry-led initiative to develop a trace back system that will address producer concerns about sheep health and meet consumer expectations for quality assurance and food safety.

Why Do We Need To Identify Sheep?
The goal of animal identification is to prevent and control the spread of disease and to provide safe food to consumers. The Canadian Sheep Identification Program will dramatically increase our ability to respond to any disease outbreaks and will increase consumer confidence in our product. Although the national flock currently enjoys a highly rated health status, a disease outbreak can occur at anytime. National identification is also essential for the development of effective disease eradication programs.

Why Now?
The Canadian Sheep Identification Program is, in part, a response to domestic and international pressure for livestock industries to develop effective traceback systems. Recent outbreaks of Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in Europe, E. coli in Belgium and the United States, and Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in the United Kingdom
devastated livestock industries because traceback systems did not exist. Governments and industries quickly realized the need to implement an effective system to help control the spread of disease by tracing its origin from the farm gate to the consumers' plate.

In Canada, the cattle industry, including bison, successfully implemented the final phase of its program in July, 2002. The pork, goat, and cervid sectors are also preparing to implement similar programs.

Livestock identification is also happening throughout the world. The World Trade Organization (WTO) is insisting all of its members upgrade their diagnostic and surveillance capabilities to reduce risk when animals are imported and exported.

Last year the sheep industry exported over 11,000 animals. The Canadian Sheep Identification Program is necessary to maintain access to both our domestic and international markets.

Please visit our new website for more information on our programs, the latest news releases, and more at www.cansheep.ca or we can be contacted at P.O. Box 5451 Ottawa ON K2C 3M1 - Telephone: 613-248-8084 or Fax: 613-248-8341 - E-mail: cansheep@cansheep.ca.