Frequently asked questions

SheepTrace is the name under which Canada's national sheep identification and traceability program operates as the Canadian Sheep Federation serves as Responsible Administrator. The program has historically operated as the Canadian Sheep Identification Program, or CSIP. SheepTrace is the public-facing identity for the program, reporting system, producer guidance and support.

CSIP is becoming SheepTrace. The national sheep identification and traceability program is continuing — SheepTrace is not an unrelated new program. As responsibility for administration has transitioned to the Canadian Sheep Federation, the program is operating under the SheepTrace name.

The CSIP name is transitioning to SheepTrace. The national program itself continues. For producers, the name change does not create new reporting requirements or require immediate action.

The SheepTrace name provides a clear identity for Canada's national sheep traceability program as CSF assumes responsibility for its administration. It creates one public-facing name for the program, reporting system, producer information and support. The name change does not itself create new producer reporting requirements.

No. SheepTrace is the public-facing name for the national sheep identification and traceability program as administration transitions to CSF. Federal traceability requirements continue to be established and enforced by CFIA.

No. SheepTrace is the national program and public service brand. AgroLedger™ is the technology platform that will power the SheepTrace reporting system. Public communications refer to the SheepTrace reporting system unless a technical explanation specifically requires more detail.

The Canadian Sheep Federation governs and administers SheepTrace as the Responsible Administrator for Canada's national sheep traceability program, under a Responsible Administrator Agreement with CFIA signed in September 2026.

No. CFIA continues to establish and enforce applicable federal livestock traceability requirements. CSF's role as Responsible Administrator is to administer the national sheep traceability program.

CFIA remains the federal regulator for Canada's livestock traceability framework and is a transition partner under the Responsible Administrator Agreement.

CCIA is a transition partner and the existing CLTS environment continues to be used for sheep traceability reporting during the transition. CSF and CCIA are coordinating the handover of responsibilities so reporting and other program services can continue without disruption.

A SheepTrace Advisory Committee will provide formal industry input into the program, with representation from every province. Additional information about the committee and its operation will be communicated as it is finalized.

Provincial organizations are important partners in communicating with producers and providing industry input. They receive transition information and communication materials and are invited to participate in the national advisory structure.

No immediate change in producer action is required. Continue using the existing CLTS reporting and tag-purchasing processes until SheepTrace provides specific cutover instructions. Operational cutover is currently planned for December 9, 2026.

No. The traceability reporting requirements producers and industry participants must meet remain the same through this transition. What changes at operational cutover is the system used to submit and manage sheep traceability information.

No new producer reporting requirements are being created as part of the Responsible Administrator transition. Potential future amendments to federal traceability regulations are a separate regulatory process and should not be confused with the transition to SheepTrace.

Continue reporting through CLTS using the existing process. Do not begin reporting through SheepTrace until specific cutover instructions are issued. Cutover is currently planned for December 9, 2026.

Not yet. Account access and activation instructions will be provided before producers and industry users need to begin using the SheepTrace reporting system. Watch for communications from SheepTrace and your provincial organization as the December 9 cutover approaches.

No. Continue following current traceability record-keeping and reporting processes. Any action required before cutover will be communicated clearly in advance.

No. Producers should continue purchasing approved sheep tags through the existing distribution channel during the transition.

Yes. Approved sheep tag purchasing continues through the current distribution model during the transition.

No change in approved identifier requirements is being made simply because the program is changing its name or administrator. Continue following current approved tag requirements and purchasing processes unless SheepTrace communicates otherwise.

There is no requirement arising solely from the program name change to replace otherwise valid approved identifiers. Further information about future tag branding and supply will be communicated as the transition progresses.

SheepTrace branding is being incorporated into future program materials and tag-related arrangements. Timing for any change in physical tag branding will be communicated once supply and transition details are finalized. Producers should continue purchasing and using currently approved tags in the meantime.

Maintaining continuity of approved tag supply is a transition priority. Producers should continue ordering through the existing distribution channel. If any supply-related process changes, affected users will be notified directly.

Yes. At operational cutover, sheep traceability reporting will move from CLTS to the SheepTrace reporting system, powered by AgroLedger™.

The current planned operational cutover is December 9, 2026. Users will receive specific instructions before they need to make the switch. The date remains subject to the executed Agreement, operational readiness and any written CFIA transition direction.

Yes. Continue using CLTS for sheep traceability reporting until SheepTrace cutover instructions tell you otherwise. The cutover to SheepTrace is planned for December 9, 2026.

CSF and transition partners will issue clear cutover instructions in advance, including the effective timing and what users need to do. Until that instruction is issued, continue using CLTS.

Yes. Training and support will be provided before users are required to report through the SheepTrace system. Planned resources include written guides, quick-start materials, webinars, short videos, FAQs and direct support.

Yes. Role-specific guidance is planned for operational users including markets, dealers, processors and tag partners before cutover.

The SheepTrace reporting system is being designed to work across devices. Detailed device, browser and system-function guidance will be published as system readiness milestones are completed. No specific device compatibility should be assumed until that guidance is issued.

The transfer of existing sheep traceability information is part of the operational transition work. More detailed information about data migration and what users will see in the SheepTrace system will be provided once those arrangements are finalized and approved.

No such instruction has been issued. Producers should not begin recreating or re-entering historical traceability information unless SheepTrace specifically directs them to do so.

Data security and privacy requirements form part of the operational transition. SheepTrace will publish plain-language information about data handling, access and correction processes as those arrangements are finalized.

Detailed access information will be published once the applicable arrangements and procedures are finalized. Until then, CSF will not speculate beyond the approved privacy and access framework.

The final SheepTrace data-access and correction process will be published before launch. Until cutover, continue using existing correction processes for information reported through CLTS.

The Responsible Administrator Agreement provides for a 90-day transition. The contractual transition began September 10, 2026, with operational cutover currently planned for December 9, 2026.

The contractual transition clock began with the dated CFIA signature on September 10. CSF received notification of the executed agreement on September 16 and began public communications at that point. The contractual Day 90 date was not reset by the later notification.

December 9 is the current planned operational cutover date. Communications will continue to reflect completed readiness milestones and any written transition direction. If the timing changes, users will be told clearly what to do and when.

The transition is being managed through operational and communications readiness gates. Contingency and delayed-cutover communications are being prepared so users can be given clear instructions if the operational plan changes.

The detailed cutover sequence has not yet been published. Users should continue using CLTS until specific cutover instructions are issued. Any overlap, freeze period or handoff window will be communicated once finalized.

The SheepTrace website (sheeptrace.ca) is the authoritative source for current transition information, FAQs, operational guidance, training resources and support information. CSF and partner organizations direct users back to that source so information remains consistent and current.

Questions can be directed to SheepTrace at info@sheeptrace.ca or by phone at 613-652-1824. You can also use the contact form at sheeptrace.ca/contact.

Yes. Core public-facing SheepTrace content is being developed in English and French as part of transition readiness.

SheepTrace will publish dated updates and revise its FAQ and guidance as operational decisions are finalized. Provincial organizations and other partners will also be provided with approved update materials.

Provincial organizations should use the approved SheepTrace FAQ and transition messages and direct detailed or unresolved operational questions to SheepTrace at info@sheeptrace.ca rather than independently interpreting evolving transition instructions.