CHANGES TO BRAND REGISTRATION IMPLEMENTED

Released on November 7, 1996

Acting Agriculture and Food Minister Andy Renaud today announced that
the amended Animal Identification Act has been proclaimed and the
revised regulations became effective Oct. 29.

"The changes to The Animal Identification Act will simplify brand
registration for producers by providing them with the opportunity to
register a lifetime brand," Renaud said. "This will mean that a
producer will only have to apply to register a brand once."

Currently, producers are required to re-register a brand every four
years and pay a $25 registration fee. Producers will now be able to
apply to register a lifetime brand for a $200 registration fee.

Renaud said that producers who have brands coming up for renewal will
be advised of this option.

"Should a substantial number of producers choose to register a lifetime
brand, it would not only reduce the paperwork for operations, it would
assist administrative efficiencies in the Livestock and Veterinary
Operations Branch in providing brand registration services."

Renaud said other regulation changes include the reduction in the
number of characters required for a brand to be approved and the
provision for the re-registration of an expired historic brand that
does not meet the normal criteria as an acceptable brand.

"A number of brands have a historic significance to producers, but were
no longer being accepted because of the difficulty in describing their
design in the brand registry," Renaud said. "The regulation will now
permit the re-registration of a number of these expired historic
brands, subject to ministerial approval."

Renaud said these changes reflect Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food's
commitment to simplify the registration requirement for producers, in
addition to improving the service to the livestock industry.

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For more information, contact:

Merv Ross
Manager of Field Services
Livestock and Veterinary Operations Branch
Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food
Regina
Phone: (306) 787-5957