Audit finds gaps in B.C. livestock tracking system used for emergency response

British Columbia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Food needs stronger measures to ensure it can quickly locate farm animals during disease outbreaks or natural disasters, according to a new report from the Office of the Auditor General.

The audit reviewed the ministry’s Premises ID program, which was created to help emergency officials identify where poultry and livestock are kept and who owns them. Acting Auditor General Sheila Dodds said the system could play a vital role in protecting animals and food supply chains during crises such as bird flu outbreaks, wildfires, or floods. However, the audit found the ministry did not have adequate procedures to confirm whether information in the database was accurate or current.

The report noted that while registration in the Premises ID program has been mandatory since July 2022, not all poultry and livestock owners have enrolled. The ministry also lacked sufficient data to identify gaps in registration or to focus efforts on increasing compliance.

Auditors further found that ministry employees had limited guidance on when and how Premises ID information could be shared with other agencies, raising risks of either unauthorized disclosure or unnecessary withholding of data during emergencies.

The ministry has accepted all seven of the Auditor General’s recommendations, including steps to improve registration rates, strengthen data reliability, and clarify rules for sharing information among staff and partner organizations.