Premises Identification became mandatory in Alberta on January 1, 2009 under Alberta's Animal Health Act.
Premises Identification (PID), one of the pillars of traceability, links livestock and poultry to land locations or premises. Alberta’s PID Program was established to plan for, control, and prevent the spread of agricultural diseases. It is also used as an early warning system to notify animal owners of a natural disaster such as a flood or fire that could affect their animals or operations. Read how the PID system is used in emergency situations.
What is Premises Identification (PID)?
Premises identification (PID) is an important tool that 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 in the PID system of an animal disease or natural disaster (such as a flood or fire) 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 and effective emergency response.
PID links livestock and poultry to a geographical location or premises. A PID number is a nine character unique identifier (in Alberta, a PID number starts with ‘AA’, ‘AB’, or ‘AT’) assigned to a specific premises when the geographical location is registered in a PID account. The requirement for premises identification became law in Alberta on January 1, 2009 as part of the Animal Health Act.
Sheep owners require a PID number to:
- Buy medication for their animals at retail outlets
- Complete documents such as manifests and permits
- Sell livestock at auction markets
- Buy Canadian Sheep Identification Program (CSIP) ear tags
- Apply for some government agriculture grants and programs
The proposed amendments to Part XV of the federal Health of Animals Regulations include the requirement to provide the PID number for the site of departure and site of destination when transporting livestock. This is anticipated to be in effect in 2025.
Obtain a PID account if you are in care and control of livestock and/or poultry
If you are in care and control of livestock, poultry or other animals in captivity (excluding cats and dogs) and the animals are kept at your premises, you need to apply for a PID account and obtain at least one PID number. Animal owners are encouraged to register additional livestock premises in the PID system, especially if they are located away from the main operation.
If you operate a commingling site (e.g. stable, community pasture, fair ground, etc.), you are required to obtain a PID account, register all your commingling sites and provide the PID number(s) to the users of your site(s).
Keep your PID information current
Effective emergency response and the ability to protect your animals depends on accurate information. It is important that you update your PID account when there are changes (contact information, animal types and capacity, etc.) or if you no longer have livestock on your premises. Inaccurate and outdated information can put your animals at risk during an emergency by delaying notification or delivering an incorrect response from emergency responders.
To review/update your PID information, to create a new PID account or to simply learn more about PID:
- Visit agriculture.alberta.ca/premises
- Call 310-FARM (3276)
Your information is protected under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act (FOIP Act) and the Animal Health Act (AHA).
Q&A on Premises Identification Information