The program created by the B.C. government in 2022 to keep track of farm animals in case of emergencies is unreliable, the province’s auditor general has found.
The Premises ID program requires farmers to register all their livestock and poultry online so officials can track the animals in emergencies such as floods, fires or bird flu outbreaks.
But a report released on Thursday, Nov. 6, finds that the program, which became mandatory on July 1, 2022, failed to adequately ensure all poultry and livestock were registered, and that insufficient information meant officials couldn’t find the gaps.
Some information was also found to be out-of-date.
In addition, the Ministry of Agriculture and Food failed to provide staff with guidance about when and with whom Premises ID information could be shared, potentially making it difficult to use the information during an emergency.
“Without adequate guidance, information could be shared when it’s not permitted or withheld when it should be given out,” Auditor General Sheila Dodds said in a news release.
The ministry accepted all seven of Dodds’ recommendations to increase program registration, address data reliability and improve guidance to staff about sharing information.