COVID-19 response
To date, there have been no reports of traditional livestock being infected by COVID-19 anywhere. However, livestock producers should follow normal biosecurity measures as always. This includes limiting visitors or workers who may have travelled to – or been in contact with someone from – an affected area. For updates on COVID-19 and on-farm disease prevention, see Biosecurity and livestock – Resources: COVID-19.
Overview
Premises Identification (PID) one of the pillars of traceability, links livestock and poultry to land locations or premises.
Alberta’s Premises Identification Program was established to plan for, control and prevent the spread of animal diseases. Regulations requiring premises identification became law January 1, 2009 as part of the Animal Health Act.
The PID program is also used as an early warning system to notify animal owners of a natural disaster such as a flood or wildfire that could affect their animals.
PID Account login or sign up
By registering your account online you will have direct access to your information and the ability to immediately make any changes to it.
Mandatory info
Under provincial law, PID Account numbers are required for:
- medication purchases at licensed retail outlets, as part of 2014 amendments to the Animal Health Act
- animal movement documents such as transportation manifests or permits, if required
- selling livestock at auction markets
- applying for government programs and grants (where applicable)
For more information:
How to apply
Animal ownership applications
If you own livestock, poultry or other animals in captivity as defined in Alberta’s Premises Identification Regulation, and the animal is kept at a premises other than a commingling site such as a stable, you need to apply for a PID Account and obtain at least one PID Number associated to where the animal(s) are located.
You must apply for a PID Account within 30 days of assuming ownership of an animal.
You should have the following information available before you apply for a PID Account:
- legal Business Name of your business enterprise, if applicable
- location details of your initial premises
- primary contact information regarding the different species located on your premises
Download an electronic PID application form. Paper copies are also available at Agriculture and Irrigation Field Offices.
When applying online, using a Land Identification Numeric Code (LINC Number) method allows a PID Number to be issued immediately because it is the most accurate way of identifying a parcel of land location.
Other application submission methods require a manual review and validation by Alberta government staff.
Youth applications
Youth may apply for an independent PID Account at age 16, but are encouraged to use a parent’s PID Account and number(s) unless the youth anticipates owning livestock after the age of 18 and is fully prepared to take on the responsibility of their own PID Account.
Facility operator applications
If you operate a commingling site such as a stable, community pasture, fair ground and the like, you are required to:
- sign up for a PID Account
- register all your commingling sites
- provide the PID Number(s) to the users of your site(s)
You must apply for a PID Account within 30 days of assuming ownership or operation of a commingling site.
Commingling sites include: an abattoir under the Meat Inspection Act (Alberta), an abattoir under the Meat Inspection Act (Canada), animal artificial insemination centres, animal embryo transfer stations, assembling stations, carcass disposal sites, boarding stables, community pastures, fairs and exhibitions, feedlots, livestock markets, an establishment operating under the Meat Inspection Act (Canada), meat facilities under the Meat Inspection Act (Alberta), race tracks, renderers, research facilities, veterinary clinics, veterinary laboratories, veterinary hospitals, and zoos.
Emergency management
Premises Identification (PID), one of the pillars of traceability, provides a way of linking livestock and poultry to specific pieces of land for animal disease and emergency response situations.
This information is collected in the PID System, which is an important tool supporting the Office of the Chief Provincial Veterinarian (OCPV). The PID System protects your animals and preserve your livelihood in the event a disease outbreak or natural disaster.
Determining where animals are, where they have been, and what other animals they have come into contact with 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 location information
Holding a PID Account is a legal responsibility that may require action in the event of an emergency. During an emergency, the information registered in your PID Account allows emergency responders to quickly access your contact information and determine the land location of where your animals are kept.
This can only be accomplished if land locations are registered in the Premises Identification System.
Location information can be added to a PID Application by including a legal land description or latitudes / longitudes.
LINC Number
The quickest method is to apply online using a Land Identification Numeric Code (LINC Number), which is a 10-digit number generated under the Land Titles Act.
A LINC Number can be retrieved in 2 ways:
- it can be acquired online using a legal land description through the Alberta land titles system, known as SPIN 2 (Spatial Information System)
- when applying online, using the LINC Number method allows a PID Number to be issued immediately because it is the most accurate way of identifying a parcel of land
To find your LINC Number online, go to SPIN 2 online and click ‘Guest Login’ to search for land titles data. Additional information is also available.
The second way a LINC Number can be found is in the top left corner of all Alberta Registries Land Titles Certificates, issued after 1988. Note that submitting a LINC number in this fashion requires a manual review and validation by Alberta government staff.
It is vital that your information be updated within 30 days of any changes so you can receive the best service and support during an emergency. Inaccurate and outdated information can result in the support team not being able to reach you or perhaps not knowing that you and your animals could be at risk.
Personal information
Your information is protected under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act 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.
It’s crucial to keep your contact information current so that you may be quickly notified and the emergency response is not delayed.
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]