Overview
Premises identification (PID) links livestock and poultry to land locations or premises and is used to plan for, control, and prevent the spread of livestock and poultry disease. It can also be used as an early warning system to notify people registered with a valid email in the PID system of a disease risk or natural disaster that could affect their animals or operations.
Having accurate animal locations, contact information and other key data in one system is critical for a quick, accurate and effective emergency response.
Premises identification is required by law under the Animal Health Act.
PID numbers are used for:
- medication purchases at licensed retail outlets
- animal movement documents such as transportation manifests or permits
- selling livestock at auction markets
- purchasing tags
- applying for government programs and grants (where applicable)
Who needs an account
Person in care and control of animals
If livestock or poultry are in your care and control, you need to apply for a PID account and obtain at least one PID number. Even if you have one animal, it is still necessary to obtain a PID account and a PID number for the premises where it’s located.
Under Alberta's Premises Identification Regulation, premises with livestock and poultry animals in captivity must be identified.
Operator of a commingling site
If you operate a commingling site, you are required to:
- apply for a PID account
- register all your commingling sites
- provide the PID Number(s) to the users of your site(s)
A commingling site is an operation, other than a farm or ranch, where animals owned by different owners are kept together either temporarily or permanently.
Options for animal and operation types
See the options below for the animal and operation types (including commingling sites) that can be added to your account.
Create a new account
There are multiple ways to create a new PID account.
Online
By applying online, you will have direct access to your information and the ability to immediately make any changes to it.
Paper
- Print the application, or call 310-FARM (3276) to request a paper application.
- Complete the application and submit by mail or fax using instructions on the application.
With assistance
Contact 310-FARM (3276) for any assistance with your account.
To apply for a PID account, have the following information ready:
- legal business name, (if applicable)
- location details of your initial premises
- primary and alternate contact information
Access an existing account
There are multiple ways to access your existing PID account to learn what your PID number is or review and update your information.
Online
If you already have online access:
If you need to create online access:
- Visit the Premises identification login page and select "Create an online access user ID".
- Provide the following information:
- PID account number (a 10-digit number found in your account confirmation letter).
- A phone number listed in your PID account.
Paper
- Print the application or call 310-FARM (3276) to request a paper application.
- Follow the instructions on the form to update your information and submit by mail or fax.
With assistance
- Contact 310-FARM
Keep information current
Effective emergency response and the ability to protect your animals depends on accurate information. It is important that you update your premises identification account when there are changes to your operation (contact information, animal types and capacity) or if you no longer have livestock on your premises.
When information is inaccurate or out of date, emergency notifications may be delayed and responders may not have the information needed to respond effectively.
The following PID account information should be reviewed regularly:
- contact information for the account (including email addresses)
- location of the premises where animals are located (i.e.; legal land description or geo-referenced coordinates)
- type of premises/operation (e.g., farm, abattoir, livestock auction, stable)
- types of animals raised, kept, displayed, assembled, or disposed of on the premises
- maximum capacity for each species of animal on the premises.
Email is the primary method used to distribute emergency notifications to PID account holders. Keeping a valid, regularly monitored email address on your account helps ensure you receive important information quickly.
How information is used
Premises identification provides a way of linking livestock and poultry to specific pieces of land for animal disease and emergency response situations. As a pillar of traceability, PID along with animal identification and animal movement reporting, supports full livestock traceability.
This information is collected in the PID System, which is an important tool supporting the Office of the Chief Provincial Veterinarian. The PID System protects your animals and preserves your livelihood in the event of a disease outbreak or natural disaster.
Determining where animals are located is important to:
- allow for swift and accurate response in the event of an animal disease outbreak
- respond to extraordinary events such as flooding, wildfires, sour gas leaks
- provide better control measures for diseases affecting more than one livestock species
- quickly inform targeted producers of threats and/or control measures
- immediately dispatch emergency resources to targeted locations
- rapidly determine risk-free sites for emergency carcass disposal
- swiftly define which regions are or are not affected by an outbreak to keep market avenues open for unaffected producers and preventing unnecessary movement restrictions
Adding additional premises
Animal owners that care for their own animals are required to have at least one premises registered, preferably the main animal location. It is beneficial for animal owners to register additional premises in the PID system, particularly those located away from the main operation, to ensure they are still notified if an emergency happens in that area.
To receive emergency notifications for a location, that premises must be registered in the PID system.
Protection of personal information
Your information is protected under the Protection of Privacy Act (POPA) and the Animal Health Act (AHA).
It may be used or disclosed to authorized individuals, in accordance with the AHA, for the purposes set out in the AHA including to plan for or respond to an animal health emergency or to validate premises information held in the system.
Contact 310-FARM
Hours: 8:15 am to 4:30 pm (open Monday to Friday, closed statutory holidays)
Toll free: 310-FARM (3276) (in Alberta)
Phone: 403-742-7901 (outside Alberta)
Email: [email protected]