Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and minister for the Canadian Wheat Board Chuck Strahl has introduced the Canadian Integrated Traceability Program (CITP) worth $1.7 million. This new programme will accelerate the development, implementation and integration of traceability systems across the Canadian meat and livestock industry.

Mr Strahl said, "Sophisticated tracking tools will help our industries expand to new markets while better safeguarding people's health."

The CITP provides funding to support pilot projects in the livestock and meat sector which demonstrate integrated approaches to traceability implementation across the value chain.

This new programme is a sub-element of the Repositioning the Canadian Livestock Industry Strategy, one of several measures and programmes introduced to assist the industry in responding to the outbreak of BSE.