Dec. 4, 2003   
News Release                        
For Immediate Release           

Equine Canada Takes The Lead On A National Equine Identification System

Ottawa, Ontario---The federal government is looking to Equine Canada to develop a strategy for identification of all equines in Canada, with a component to ensure “traceability”.

As a direct outcome of the BSE crisis in Alberta this year, the federal government is looking to expand mandatory animal identification.

The federal government and national livestock producer organizations are proceeding with the creation of the “Canadian Livestock Identification Agency” to direct the development of a national multi-species program for identification and traceability. In the proposed structure for the agency, Equine Canada will be represented on the Board of Directors with other livestock species. Each livestock group has been asked to prepare a recommended plan for identification and traceability for their group, for presentation to the federal government in early 2004.

The economic value of the equine-equestrian industry in Canada is clearly generated through the “live use” activities of our horses. However, the majority of horses in Canada are resident on rural properties, where our animals regularly come in contact with other food livestock species. The very nature of the mobility of horses involved in sport and recreation, means that in the case of highly communicable diseases (hoof-and-mouth for example), horses could act as a disease transmission vector to spread disease between countries or regions of the country.

Equine Canada, on behalf of its members is responsible for developing an “equine-specific” program that meets the needs of our breeding, sport, and recreation stakeholders, and satisfies federal government requirements for identification and traceability. Breeds & Industry Division perceives this as an opportunity to develop a system that marries our requirement for performance and pedigree tracking to support our marketing initiatives, with the government requirements for livestock identification.

Equine Canada has created an “Equine Identification Task Force” to spearhead the development of a national plan for all equines – including registered pedigree animals, non-registered animals, horses involved in sport, recreation or “work” sectors. The Task Force held its first, of two, working sessions during the Royal Winter Fair to develop a national plan. A second working session will be held in Red Deer, Alberta in January 2004, in session with the Alberta Horse Breeders Conference.

In addition to the Task Force working sessions, Equine Canada will be holding a series of industry awareness sessions to present proposals from the Task Force for discussion and input. The first Information Session was held at the Royal Winter Fair, Saturday, November 15, 2003. The second Information Session is scheduled for Friday, January 9, 2004, at the Capri Centre in Red Deer Alberta. Check the EC website, www.equinecanada.ca for additional information as the work of the Task Force evolves. Please ensure that representatives from your group or association attend the sessions, and discuss the implications of the plan for your horses.

It is planned to present the final recommendations from the Task Force to the Breeds & Industry Delegate Assembly, and all EC Councils in February 2004 for approval.

Successful development of a plan to identify approximately 1,000,000 horses over the next four years will involve active consultation, and considerable cooperation between the various sectors of our industry. If we want to achieve a “Made In Canada Equine Identification Solution” that satisfies the needs of our sport, racing, recreation, and breeder stakeholders, the window of opportunity is open now.

For more information on the Equine Canada Identification Task Force, please visit www.equinecanada.ca.

Equine Canada is a member-based association that represents, promotes and services Canada's equine community and industry. Its core areas of activity involve sport, equine health and welfare, education and safety, governance and marketing, representation and communication. Equine Canada is recognized by Sport Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Coaching Association of Canada as the national organization representing equestrian sport and equine interests in Canada. For more information about Equine Canada, please visit www.equinecanada.ca.