Traceability

Traceability systems make it possible to follow the movement backwards (tracing) and forwards (tracking) of animals, plants, and food through all points of a production and distribution system between the farm and the consumer.

Food traceability

Developing and implementing an effective traceability system helps agriculture, food, and seafood businesses to:

• Meet existing or emerging regulatory requirements
• Reduce costs associated with recalls by narrowing the scope to food that may present a risk of injury to human health
• Protect consumers against risk of injury to their health from food hazards
• Protect brand reputation and increase consumer trust in food safety
• Access new markets

Traceability requirements under Canada’s Safe Food for Canadians Regulations apply to a broad scope of food businesses in B.C.

For more information about traceability requirements, please visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s traceability for food.

Livestock traceability

Canada’s livestock traceability system aims to provide timely, accurate and relevant information to reduce the impacts of a disease outbreak, food safety issue or natural disaster originating from and/or affecting livestock animals. Traceability systems are an important tool for protecting animal and public health.

Canada’s livestock traceability system relies on three pillars:

1. Animal identification
2. Premises identification
3. Animal/ product movement

For more information about livestock traceability in B.C. and Canada, please visit livestock traceability.

B.C. traceability funding programs

Funding is available to support B.C.’s food, agriculture and seafood businesses to implement new or improved facility-based traceability practices, systems infrastructure and technologies.

For more information about B.C.’s funding programs, please visit the traceability programs website.