Domestic Cervid Industry Regulation

(no amdt) ALBERTA REGULATION 137/2026 Livestock Industry Diversification Act DOMESTIC CERVID INDUSTRY REGULATION Table of Contents Interpretation and Application 1 Construction of Act and application of this Regulation 2 Interpretation for Act purposes 3 Definitions 4 Present diversified livestock animal definition in Act 5 Interpretation — in containment 6 Application re dead animals, meat legislation 7 Change to wildlife status 8 Delegation of operator powers and duties Licences and Permits 9 Qualifications for diversified livestock farm licences 10 Fees for permits and licences 11 Form of permits and licences 12 Term of licences 13 Applications for permits and licences 14 Permits — general provisions 15 Term of issued permits 16 Non‑transferability of permits Registration and Identification 17 Registration 18 Mode of identification 19 Separation or loss and replacement of ear tags 20 Dates for registration and identification Enclosures, Exits and Strays 21 Requirement for diversified livestock farm enclosures 22 Exits from diversified livestock farms 23 Straying Harvesting 24 Harvesting domestic cervids 25 Use of harvested carcass, meat 26 Prohibition re uninspected slaughter operation Possession and Related Events 27 Exceptions to possession prohibition 28 Possession and confinement — zoo animals 29 Transportation 30 Importation 31 Exportation 32 Temporary holding facilities Records and Reports 33 Acquisition and disposition records 34 Harvest records 35 Transportation records 36 Inventory and velvet antler reports Antler Provisions 37 Removing velvet antler 38 Tagging velvet antler 39 Tagging hard antler with skull plate attached 40 Tag requirements Miscellaneous 41 Onus of proof re wildlife legislation 42 Liability for strays 43 Minister approval of codes, etc. 44 Repeal 45 Expiry 46 Coming into force Interpretation and Application Construction of Act and application of this Regulation 1 This Regulation applies only to the extent that the diversified livestock animals in question are domestic cervids, and the Act, to the extent that this Regulation applies, is to be construed, generally and except in construing this section and section 3 of this Regulation and section 1(1)(m.2) of the Act, as if references to diversified livestock animals were references only to domestic cervids. Interpretation for Act purposes 2 For the purposes of the Act, “hunt”, with respect to an animal to which section 18.01 of the Act applies, has the meaning assigned to it in the Wildlife Act but does not include the capturing or killing of a stray to the extent that it is done in accordance with section 23 or, with respect only to a domestic cervid that is lawfully in confinement, any activity that constitutes an accepted agricultural practice. Definitions 3 In this Regulation, (a) “accepted agricultural practice” means a farm practice that (i) conforms with the Act and this Regulation, (ii) is standard in the management of traditional livestock operations, and (iii) is a reasonable and generally accepted practice of animal management and husbandry in the treatment of all domestic cervids; (b) “animal identification number” means the identification number of an animal, as indicated on its ear tag or other approved animal identifier, or on or associated with another method of identification approved by the Director; (c) “antler identification number” means the identification number of velvet antler or hard antler with skull plate attached, as indicated on its antler tag or other approved antler identifier; (d) “antler tag” means a tag provided by, or issued in Alberta and in the form approved by, the Director for the purpose of section 38 or 39, as the case may be, to identify velvet antler or hard antler with skull plate attached; (e) “calf” means a prospective domestic cervid that is not identified and is under the age of one year; (f) “customer” means an individual who purchases the experience of harvesting a domestic cervid from an operator and any individual that is a member of a party accompanying that customer on the experience; (g) “cut and wrapped meat” means meat from a whole carcass of a harvested domestic cervid that has been broken down through deboning, trimming, slicing and portioning the meat from the carcass into raw portioned cuts of meat, including steaks, roasts and other cuts, and packaged; (h) “cut hard antler” means antler that would be hard antler with skull plate attached but for its having been cut without the skull or skull plate attached; (i) “domestic cervid” means a diversified livestock animal of a species specified in section 4; (j) “ear tag” means a tag provided by, or issued in Alberta and in the form approved by, the Director for the purposes of section 18 to identify a domestic cervid, and includes a replacement identifier referred to in section 19(1); (k) “elk” means (i) Cervus canadensis manitobensis [elk (wapiti) (Manitoban elk)], (ii) Cervus canadensis nannodes [elk (wapiti) (tule elk)], (iii) Cervus canadensis nelsoni [elk (wapiti) (Rocky Mountain elk)], (iv) Cervus canadensis roosevelti [elk (wapiti) (Roosevelt elk)], (v) Cervus canadensis sibiricus [elk (Altai elk)], and (vi) crossbreeds of the domestic cervids specified in subclauses (i) to (v); (l) “hard antler with skull plate attached” means domestic cervid hard antler or antlers with the skull or skull plate, or both, attached to the antler or both antlers, as the case may be; (m) “herd letters” means a unique letter sequence approved by the Director and used to identify a domestic cervid’s herd of origin; (n) “household” means (i) with respect to an individual operator, the operator’s spouse and the operator’s children, siblings and parents, whether in a blood, step or foster relationship or a relationship by marriage to the operator, (ii) with respect to a customer, the customer’s spouse and the customer’s children, siblings and parents, whether in a blood, step or foster relationship or a relationship by marriage to the customer, (iii) with respect to a guest who actively participated in the harvesting of the domestic cervid, the guest’s spouse and the guest’s children, siblings and parents, whether in a blood, step or foster relationship or a relationship by marriage to the guest, and (iv) with respect to an employee of an operator living in or on property belonging to the operator, the employee’s spouse and the employee’s children, siblings and parents, whether in a blood, step or foster relationship or a relationship by marriage to the employee, that live in or on property belonging to the operator; (o) “other approved animal identifier” means an identifier, other than an ear tag, that is approved by the Director under section 40(2) and that identifies an animal, and includes a replacement identifier referred to in section 19(1); (p) “other approved antler identifier” means an identifier, other than an antler tag, that is approved by the Director under section 40(2) and that identifies velvet antler or hard antler with skull plate attached; (q) “present domestic cervid” means a present diversified livestock animal that is a domestic cervid; (r) “prospective domestic cervid” means a prospective diversified livestock animal that is a domestic cervid; (s) “spouse” includes a person who, in relation to an operator, customer, guest or employee, is a common‑law partner as defined in subsection 248(1) of the Income Tax Act (Canada); (t) “temporary holding facility” means any place, including a diversified livestock farm but excluding a zoo, in any jurisdiction where live domestic cervids generally, or specific live domestic cervids in particular, are kept for a temporary purpose only, including slaughter at an abattoir, and that meets the requirements of section 14(a) of the Act; (u) “uninspected slaughter operation” means an uninspected slaughter operation as defined in the Meat Inspection Regulation (AR 42/2003); (v) “velvet antler” means the entire cartilaginous antler from a domestic cervid at a particular stage of annual growth where the exterior of the antler has a velvety covering. Present diversified livestock animal definition in Act 4 The following species are prescribed for the purposes of section 1(1)(m.2) of the Act: (a) Odocoileus hemionus (mule deer); (b) Odocoileus virginianus (white-tailed deer); (c) Alces alces (moose); (d) elk; (e) any hybrid progeny resulting from an initial crossing of 2 domestic cervids specified in any of clauses (a) to (d). Interpretation — in containment 5 (1) The circumstances referred to in section 1(3) of the Act, provided that the following activities are performed in accordance with the laws of the applicable jurisdiction and the additional requirements of subsection (2) are met, are, (a) in the case of a species animal other than, in Alberta, a stray, that the animal is being (i) held on a diversified livestock farm or, if outside Alberta, held on premises that the Minister considers to be the equivalent in the jurisdiction in question to a diversified livestock farm, (ii) transported, or (iii) held in a temporary holding facility, and is held for purposes consistent with accepted agricultural practices and, if the animal was ever outside Alberta, the animal was on each occasion lawfully imported into Alberta and lawfully exported from the outside jurisdiction, or (b) in the case of a stray, that the animal is (i) identified, or (ii) a calf accompanied by an identified female domestic cervid on which the calf is dependent. (2) The additional requirements referred to in subsection (1) are that (a) the animal has been in one or more of the conditions referred to in subsection (1)(a) or (b), or any combination of those conditions, for its entire life, and (b) the licence for the diversified livestock farm in which the animal is or was normally held has not been cancelled or, if the farm is being operated under section 9 of the Act, the period allowed by that section has not expired. (3) The period referred to in section 1(3) of the Act is, beginning with the time the species animal initially strayed, (a) if that animal is and remains an identified domestic cervid, the remainder of its life, (b) if that animal is a calf, the period ending at the earlier of (i) the time when it ceases to be accompanied as referred to in subsection (1)(b)(ii), and (ii) if the accompaniment referred to in subsection (1)(b)(ii) remains in effect at the end of May in the year following the year of the calf’s birth, the end of that May, or (c) in the case of any species animal not covered by clause (a) or (b), including a calf that was not so accompanied when it initially strayed, no time at all. (4) For the purposes of subsection (3), the onus of proving when the straying began is on the operator. Application re dead animals, meat legislation 6 Nothing in this Regulation applies with respect to a dead animal where all applicable provisions of the Act, the Meat Inspection Act and the Safe Food for Canadians Act (Canada) have been or are being met concerning the animal. Change to wildlife status 7 (1) A live stray that ceases to be in containment as a result of its not meeting the conditions required for retaining its containment status in section 5 of this Regulation and section 1(3) of the Act becomes wildlife on its ceasing to be in containment. (2) A live stray that loses its identification immediately ceases to be a stray and a domestic cervid and becomes wildlife. (3) A stray that is killed or otherwise dies retains its status as a domestic cervid after its death. Delegation of operator powers and duties 8 (1) An operator may delegate any powers conferred or duties imposed on the operator by any provision of the Act or this Regulation to an individual (a) whom the operator has placed in charge of the operator’s diversified livestock farm, or (b) who, if the operator is an individual, is to be in charge of the farm in the temporary absence of the operator. (2) Nothing in subsection (1) relieves the operator from any liability imposed on operators by the Act or this Regulation. Licences and Permits Qualifications for diversified livestock farm licences 9 (1) In this section, (a) “harvest preserve land base” means the portion of land within the overall land base that is fenced to contain animals for the operation of a harvest preserve; (b) “overall land base” means all land belonging to a licensee for which a licence for a diversified livestock farm has been issued. (2) Subject to section 4(3) of the Act and the regulations, a person is qualified to acquire or to hold a licence only if, in addition to qualifying under section 4(2)(a), (b) or (c) of the Act, the Minister, after reviewing and taking into account the following, considers that that person would be a fit and proper licence holder: (a) the person’s licensing history; (b) the person’s involvement in any diversified livestock farm operation on behalf of any other licence holder; (c) any other criteria specified in a submitted application form. (3) Sections 3.1(a) and 5 of the Meat Inspection Act are prescribed for the purposes of section 7(1) of the Act. (4) Notwithstanding section 4(3) of the Act, a person may acquire or hold a licence for a diversified livestock production farm on land in respect of which a licence for an uninspected slaughter operation has been issued under the Meat Inspection Act . (5) Notwithstanding section 4(3) of the Act, a person may acquire or hold a licence for a harvest preserve and an uninspected slaughter operation on an overall land base if the uninspected slaughter operation is not located on the harvest preserve land base. Fees for permits and licences 10 The fees for, and for any other service relating to, a permit issuable under the Act or a licence are those set by the Minister. Form of permits and licences 11 Permits issuable under the Act and licences are to be issued in the form set by the Director and must be allocated a unique number. Term of licences 12 The term of a licence is 5 years. Applications for permits and licences 13 Applications for permits issuable under the Act and for licences are to be submitted in the form and manner the Minister requires. Permits — general provisions 14 (1) In this section, (a) “federal health certificate” means a certificate referred to in paragraph 19(1)(b) of the Health of Animals Act (Canada); (b) “federal movement permit” means a permit referred to in section 76 of the Health of Animals Regulations (Canada), (CRC, c. 296); (c) “registration certificate” means, with respect to a registered domestic cervid, a valid and subsisting certificate issued under section 17(2). (2) The permits issuable under the Act, for the purpose of section 10.1(1) of the Act, are (a) import permits authorizing the importation into Alberta of live prospective domestic cervids of the kinds specified in the permits, and (b) export permits authorizing the exportation from Alberta of the hard antler with skull plate attached of domestic cervids. (3) The Minister may also issue export permits authorizing the exportation from Alberta of present domestic cervids, other than hard antler with skull plate attached, if applied for by an exporter. (4) For the purposes of sections 10.1(3) and 19(2)(b) of the Act, a permit with respect to the requirements for exportation from Alberta consists of a combination, so far as applicable, of the following instruments: (a) in the case of the exportation of a live present domestic cervid to another jurisdiction within Canada, the registration certificate and the federal movement permit; (b) in the case of the exportation of a live present domestic cervid out of Canada, the registration certificate, the federal movement permit and the federal health certificate; (c) in the case of the exportation of semen, ova, embryos, blood or blood by-products, hides or other non‑meat parts incidental to slaughter, harvest or death from natural causes, written proof that the live animal from which it was or they were derived was a present domestic cervid and which proof is sufficient to establish the identity of that domestic cervid; (d) in the case of the exportation of velvet antler, written evidence of its antler identification number, the herd letters of the live domestic cervid from which it was derived and the licence number of the diversified livestock farm where that animal was normally kept; (e) in the case of any exportation, if there are any applicable laws of the importing jurisdiction that require a document allowing the importation, a document issued by the relevant authority for that jurisdiction that satisfies those laws. Term of issued permits 15 The term of a permit issued under the Act expires 30 days after the permit is issued. Non‑transferability of permits 16 A permit, or any right conferred on a person by a permit, may not be transferred to any other person. Registration and Identification Registration 17 (1) An operator must apply for registration of a prospective domestic cervid by providing the Director with a completed registration form in the form and manner the Director requires. (2) On registering a prospective domestic cervid, the Director shall issue a certificate acknowledging the registration. Mode of identification 18 (1) A domestic cervid is identified, for the purposes of the Act, (a) in the case of a stray, if (i) at least one of its ears has been tagged in a manner that meets the requirements of clause (c)(i), or (ii) the requirements of another method of identification referred to in clause (c)(ii) are met, (b) if it was imported into Alberta and is to be or is being transported directly to its diversified livestock farm in accordance with all applicable laws, or (c) in the case of any other domestic cervid, if (i) each ear has an ear tag or other approved animal identifier affixed or applied and the identifying figures or letters on neither of the ear tags or other approved animal identifiers is defaced or altered and other tags, brands or recognition methods, if any, on the animal do not interfere with either of the ear tags or other approved animal identifiers, or (ii) the requirements of another method of identification approved by the Director are met. (2) A domestic cervid remains identified if an ear tag or other approved animal identifier is separated from the animal or lost and the 30‑day period referred to in section 19(1) has not expired without the operator having notified the Director under that subsection. (3) The onus of proving that a domestic cervid is identified is on the person claiming that it is identified, and if the identification cannot be proved, the animal is not identified. Separation or loss and replacement of ear tags 19 (1) Subject to subsection (3), if an ear tag or other approved animal identifier is separated from a domestic cervid or lost, the operator shall notify the Director within 30 days of discovering the separation or loss, and the Director, if so notified and if satisfied that the separation or loss occurred, shall immediately provide the operator with a replacement identifier in the form decided by the Director. (2) On receipt of the replacement identifier, the operator shall immediately re‑identify the domestic cervid. (3) If the domestic cervid referred to in subsection (1) is a stray, (a) if only one of the 2 ear tags or other approved animal identifiers is separated or otherwise lost and the animal is captured, the operator shall ensure that that ear tag or other approved animal identifier is replaced and the animal is re‑identified within 30 days after the animal’s capture, or (b) if the sole remaining ear tag or other approved animal identifier is separated or otherwise lost, that ear tag or other approved animal identifier may not be replaced and, consequently, the stray immediately ceases to be identified. (4) If a replacement ear tag or other approved animal identifier is issued for the purposes of subsection (3)(a), the stray remains identified during the period beginning on the notification under subsection (1) and ending on the re‑identification under subsection (3)(a). Dates for registration and identification 20 The following dates following the birth of a progeny are prescribed for the purposes of section 11(2) of the Act: (a) if the mother is an elk, January 1; (b) if the mother is any other domestic cervid, April 1. Enclosures, Exits and Strays Requirement for diversified livestock farm enclosures 21 The aggregate area to be enclosed by a diversified livestock farm’s enclosures, pens and handling facilities referred to in section 14 of the Act must be not less than 10 acres. Exits from diversified livestock farms 22 (1) With respect to section 15(1) of the Act, (a) an operator may allow a live prospective domestic cervid to leave a diversified livestock production farm if (i) the animal is identified or is a calf, (ii) the animal is being lawfully transported directly (A) for lawful sale in or exportation from Alberta, or (B) to a temporary holding facility to be lawfully held there, (iii) the operator has recorded in writing the date and purpose of the exit from the farm and the animal’s destination, and (iv) the individual actually transporting the animal out of the farm is in compliance with section 29(3), and (b) an operator may move or transport a live domestic cervid off a harvest preserve if (i) it is necessary as a result of an emergency, including a fire or flood, taking into account the health and safety of individuals and animals potentially affected, (ii) an operation ceases operations as a harvest preserve, or (iii) the animal is no longer suitable for harvesting. (2) When subsection (1)(b)(i) applies, a domestic cervid from a harvest preserve may be moved or transported to a diversified livestock production farm, another harvest preserve, a temporary holding facility or directly to slaughter. (3) When subsection (1)(b)(ii) applies, a domestic cervid may be moved or transported to a diversified livestock production farm, another harvest preserve or directly to slaughter. (4) When subsection (1)(b)(iii) applies, the domestic cervid may be moved or transported directly to slaughter. Straying 23 (1) If a domestic cervid strays, the operator (a) shall immediately report the fact of the straying, including the number of domestic cervids straying, to the Director, (b) shall make every reasonable attempt, at the earliest possible time following the reporting under clause (a), to ensure (i) the domestic cervid’s capture in accordance with subsection (2) or (4), (ii) the domestic cervid’s killing in accordance with subsection (2) or (4), or (iii) both such lawful capture followed by such lawful killing, and (c) shall (i) report the capture or killing and the domestic cervid’s animal identification number to the Director immediately after the capture or killing, and (ii) if the domestic cervid is killed, ensure that none of the carcass is given to or received by any other person who in any way assisted in the killing. (2) An attempt to capture or kill a stray under this section must (a) be reasonable and effected efficiently and in accordance with all applicable laws, (b) use reasonable and generally accepted methods of humane capture or killing, as the case may be, that constitute accepted agricultural practices, (c) be done in a manner that does not endanger or is not likely to endanger wildlife, (d) not involve the entering on to privately owned land without the prior consent of the person in possession of that land, and (e) otherwise be such that, if the stray were wildlife, the method used would not involve anything that would constitute a contravention of section 33(1)(c) and (d), 36, 44, 51(1), 52 or 53 of the Wildlife Act , or any applicable provision of any such section. (3) In subsections (4) and (8) to (14), a reference to “capture” or “kill” or a similar word includes an attempt to carry out that action. (4) Notwithstanding anything in this section, a person shall not capture or kill a stray calf unless (a) the calf is accompanied by an identified female domestic cervid on which the calf is dependent, and (b) the female domestic cervid is captured or killed at or around the same time. (5) If a person in possession of land finds a stray on that land and reports that finding to the Director, the Director shall immediately notify the operator of that finding and, if the operator does not make every reasonable attempt, at the earliest possible time following notification by the Director, to deal with the stray in accordance with this Regulation, the Director may then (a) capture or kill or attempt to capture or kill the stray, (b) take all necessary steps to remove the stray from the land, and (c) assess against the operator the costs directly or indirectly incurred by the Crown in capturing or killing and removing or attempting to remove the stray, including any damage caused by the stray or by efforts to capture, kill or remove the stray. (6) Notwithstanding anything in this section, any person who kills a stray shall report the killing to the Director immediately after the killing. (7) If a stray is killed under the circumstances set out in section 53.1 of the Wildlife Act , the operator, immediately after learning of the killing, shall have the domestic cervid’s carcass collected and dealt with according to law. (8) A person shall not capture or kill a stray (a) in a manner that endangers other persons, or (b) without due regard for the safety of other persons. (9) A person shall not capture or kill a stray, except by trapping, during the period commencing 30 minutes after sunset and ending 30 minutes before sunrise the following day. (10) A person shall not capture or kill a stray in a manner that endangers or is likely to endanger livestock or domestic cervids or damage property. (11) A person shall not capture or kill a stray while the person’s ability to capture or kill a stray is impaired by alcohol or a drug. (12) A minor shall not kill a stray with a weapon unless the minor is (a) under the direct and immediate supervision of (i) the minor’s parent or legal guardian, or (ii) an adult authorized in writing by the minor’s parent or legal guardian to accompany the minor, or (b) if using a firearm, authorized to possess the firearm under the authority of a licence issued under the Firearms Act (Canada) and the firearm is used in accordance with any conditions attached to the licence. (13) A person shall not set out, use or have in the person’s possession for the purpose of capturing or killing a stray anything described in Item 1 of the Schedule to the Wildlife Act except for (a) an immobilizing drug referred to in subitem 4 in that Schedule, unless that person is a registered veterinarian within the meaning of the Veterinary Profession Act or a person under the direct supervision of a registered veterinarian, (b) a light referred to in subitem 5 in that Schedule, except a laser aiming device that does not illuminate the target, (c) recorded wildlife calls or sounds or an electronically operated calling device referred to in subitem 9 in that Schedule, or (d) a device referred to in subitems 12, 13 and 14 in that Schedule. (14) Notwithstanding any other law, a person shall not capture or kill a stray in a wildlife sanctuary within the meaning of the Wildlife Act . Harvesting Harvesting domestic cervids 24 (1) Harvesting of a domestic cervid must (a) be reasonable and effected efficiently and in accordance with all applicable laws, (b) use reasonable and generally accepted methods of humane killing, (c) be done in a manner that does not endanger or is not likely to endanger wildlife, and (d) otherwise be such that, if the domestic cervid were wildlife, the method used would not involve anything that would constitute a contravention of section 33(1)(c) and (d), 36, 44, 51(1), 52 or 53 of the Wildlife Act , or any applicable provision of any such section. (2) A person shall not harvest a domestic cervid (a) in a manner that endangers other persons, or (b) without due regard for the safety of other persons. (3) A person shall not harvest a domestic cervid during the period commencing 30 minutes after sunset and ending 30 minutes before sunrise the following day. (4) A person shall not harvest a domestic cervid in a manner that endangers or is likely to endanger livestock or domestic cervids or damage property. (5) A person shall not harvest a domestic cervid while the person’s ability to harvest a domestic cervid is impaired by alcohol or a drug. (6) A minor shall not harvest a domestic cervid with a weapon unless the minor is (a) under the direct and immediate supervision of (i) the minor’s parent or legal guardian, or (ii) an adult authorized in writing by the minor’s parent or legal guardian to accompany the minor, or (b) if using a firearm, authorized to possess the firearm under the authority of a licence issued under the Firearms Act (Canada) and the firearm is used in accordance with any conditions attached to the licence. (7) A person shall not set out, use or have in the person’s possession for the purpose of harvesting a domestic cervid anything described in Item 1 of the Schedule to the Wildlife Act except for (a) recorded wildlife calls or sounds or an electronically operated calling device referred to in subitem 9 in that Schedule, or (b) a device referred to in subitems 12, 13 and 14 in that Schedule. Use of harvested carcass, meat 25 (1) The operator of a harvest preserve may (a) provide the carcass, meat or carcass parts of a harvested domestic cervid to (i) a customer of the operator for the personal use of the customer or members of the customer’s household, (ii) a guest of the operator if the guest actively participated in the harvest of that animal for the personal use of the guest or members of the guest’s household, or (iii) an employee of the operator for the personal use of the employee if the employee lives in or on property belonging to the operator, or members of the employee’s household, (b) provide cut and wrapped meat portions to (i) a customer referred to in clause (a)(i) for the personal use of the customer or members of the customer’s household, (ii) a guest referred to in clause (a)(ii) for the personal use of the guest or members of the guest’s household, or (iii) an employee referred to in clause (a)(iii) for the personal use of the employee or members of the employee’s household, (c) use the carcass, meat or carcass parts of a harvested domestic cervid for the operator’s personal use or provide it to members of the operator’s household for their personal use, (d) use cut and wrapped meat for the operator’s personal use or provide it to members of the operator’s household for their personal use, and (e) provide or sell carcass parts as animal food or bait to the general public. (2) The operator must label the carcass, carcass parts and meat referred to in subsection (1)(a) and the cut and wrapped meat portions referred to in subsection (1)(b) as “UNINSPECTED — NOT FOR SALE”. Prohibition re uninspected slaughter operation 26 No person may bring the carcass, carcass parts or meat of a harvested domestic cervid from a harvest preserve to an uninspected slaughter operation for processing. Possession and Related Events Exceptions to possession prohibition 27 (1) Respecting section 18.02(1) of the Act, a person may be in possession of (a) a live domestic cervid that is lawfully held in containment, (b) velvet antler or hard antler with skull plate attached that is held by (i) the operator who has removed or otherwise taken possession of it, or (ii) a person other than the operator if (A) the antler is identified, and (B) the person has proof that the antler is derived from a domestic cervid whose identity can be determined (I) by its ear tags or other approved animal identifier or by meeting the requirements of another method of identification approved under section 18(1)(c)(ii), and (II) by reference to the licence number of the farm where the domestic cervid was kept, (c) other non‑meat parts, (d) a former stray, if that person has complied with section 23, or (e) a domestic cervid that has died in circumstances where, in the period leading up to its death, it was being held and otherwise treated lawfully and if the manner of its death did not involve any illegal activity. (2) An operator, a customer referred to in section 25(1)(a)(i), a guest referred to in section 25(1)(a)(ii) and an employee referred to in section 25(1)(a)(iii) may possess the carcass of or carcass parts from a harvested domestic cervid, and meat from a harvested domestic cervid for personal consumption, provided that each person is in possession of a record referred to in section 34(4) respecting that domestic cervid. Possession and confinement — zoo animals 28 (1) Notwithstanding section 27 or any other provision of this Regulation, an operator shall not take possession of, or have in confinement, (a) a domestic cervid if that operator knows or has reason to suspect that that animal has ever been held in a zoo anywhere in the world, or (b) a species animal held in such a zoo. (2) For the purposes of subsection (1), an animal is deemed not to be or to have been in a zoo if its only presence in a zoo is or was in a vehicle transporting it without it ever having been let out of that vehicle. Transportation 29 (1) Section 18.1 of the Act does not apply to cut hard antler. (2) The individual actually transporting the carcass of or carcass parts or meat from a domestic cervid shall be in physical possession of a copy of a record referred to in section 34(4). (3) The individual actually transporting a live domestic cervid shall be in physical possession of a true copy of the report referred to in section 35. Importation 30 (1) In subsection (2), (a) “non‑resident” and “non‑resident alien” have the respective meanings assigned to them in section 3 of the Wildlife Regulation (AR 143/97); (b) “resident” means a resident as defined in the Wildlife Act . (2) An import permit may be obtained or held only by (a) the operator on whose diversified livestock farm the live prospective domestic cervid is to be held, (b) a resident who is legally authorized to possess such a domestic cervid in Alberta on its importation, or (c) a non‑resident or non‑resident alien authorized by the laws of the jurisdiction from which such a domestic cervid is to be exported to possess the domestic cervid in, and to export it from, that jurisdiction. (3) A person shall not import into Alberta a live prospective domestic cervid unless that domestic cervid has been in containment for its entire life and has never been held in a zoo anywhere. (4) A person shall not import into Alberta the hard antler with skull plate attached or the velvet antler of a prospective domestic cervid unless (a) the domestic cervid was in containment on premises referred to in section 5(1)(a)(i), (b) in the case of hard antler with skull plate attached, that person produces a document that is the equivalent of an export permit from the jurisdiction from which the domestic cervid was exported, and (c) the antler bears what the Director considers is the equivalent of an identification of the antler under this Regulation or, if such an equivalent does not exist, the person receives from the Director some form of labelling created by the Director that the Director regards as the equivalent of an antler tag or other approved antler identifier. Exportation 31 (1) A person shall not export from Alberta a live present domestic cervid unless the importation requirements of the jurisdiction to which that animal is being exported have been complied with. (2) A person shall not export from Alberta the hard antler with skull plate attached of a present domestic cervid unless the operator has obtained an export permit with respect to that hard antler. (3) A person who intends to export from Alberta a live present domestic cervid shall submit to the Director all applicable documents that constitute the permit allowing that exportation before exporting the cervid. (4) The individual actually exporting a live present domestic cervid from Alberta shall be in physical possession of the original or a true copy of the documents that constitute the permit allowing that exportation. Temporary holding facilities 32 An operator shall not have a live domestic cervid held in a temporary holding facility for a period exceeding 30 consecutive days unless the operator has submitted to the Director a written report indicating that intention and specifying (a) the domestic cervid’s herd letters and animal identification number, (b) the licence number of the diversified livestock farm where the domestic cervid is normally kept, and (c) the contact information of the operator and the owner of the temporary holding facility. Records and Reports Acquisition and disposition records 33 (1) With respect to section 16(1) of the Act, an operator shall, in respect of domestic cervids normally kept on a diversified livestock farm, keep up-to-date records, in the form and manner the Director requires, of all acquisitions and dispositions, including births, deaths, importations, exportations and strayings, including deaths and captures of strays, and all receipts evidencing, or any other written evidence of, any such transactions or events. (2) The operator shall keep the records referred to in subsection (1) for a period of at least 10 years from the time they are created. Harvest records 34 (1) In this section, (a) “customer” means a customer referred to in section 25(1)(a)(i); (b) “guest” means a guest referred to in section 25(1)(a)(ii). (2) With respect to section 16(1) of the Act, an operator of a harvest preserve shall, in respect of a domestic cervid harvested on the preserve, keep up-to-date records, in the form and manner the Director requires, of the following: (a) the name, address and contact information of the harvest preserve, its operator and the customer or guest; (b) the date of the harvest; (c) the sex of the domestic cervid; (d) the antler identification number, if applicable; (e) the animal identification number; (f) any and all carcass parts or meat taken by the customer or guest; (g) the licence number of the harvest preserve from which the domestic cervid was harvested; (h) any other information the Director requires. (3) The operator must keep the records referred to in subsection (2) for 10 years from the date the domestic cervid is harvested. (4) The operator shall provide a record respecting a harvested domestic cervid containing the information referred to in subsection (2)(a) to (h) to a customer, guest or employee referred to in section 25(1) who receives a carcass, carcass parts or meat from that domestic cervid. Transportation records 35 The operator of a diversified livestock farm where live domestic cervids are or were normally held who has had live domestic cervids moved or transported anywhere outside a diversified livestock farm shall report to the Director in writing, with respect to each trip in the movement or transportation and within 7 days after each such trip, (a) the date or the beginning and end dates of the trip, (b) the name, address and telephone number of the operator and of any agent who arranged the trip, (c) the name and address of the consignor, (d) the place where the domestic cervids were picked up and received, including the diversified livestock farm licence number if either such place is a diversified livestock farm and the legal land description if either is not, (e) the licence number of the diversified livestock farm where the domestic cervids are or were normally kept, (f) the number of domestic cervids transported, (g) a statement that none of the domestic cervids were subject to any quarantine order that prohibited or restricted their movement, (h) if and so far as applicable, their animal identification numbers, (i) in the case of a prospective domestic cervid, (i) its birth date and sex, and (ii) if it is a calf, that fact and the animal identification number of its mother, (j) if and so far as applicable, proof of the domestic cervid’s identification, and (k) any other information the Director requires respecting the transportation of domestic cervids. Inventory and velvet antler reports 36 (1) An operator shall submit to the Director a completed report, in the form and manner the Director requires, (a) subject to clause (b), itemizing inventories of domestic cervids, other than strays, normally kept on the operator’s diversified livestock farm, wherever the domestic cervids are currently kept, (i) in the case of elk and velvet antler, as of the end of the calendar year, on or before January 31 in the following year, and (ii) in the case of all other domestic cervids, as of the end of March, on or before April 30 following, and (b) if the operator has live domestic cervids held in a facility where animal semen is or ova and embryos are collected or processed, specifically itemizing inventories of those domestic cervids, as of and on or before the relevant dates, depending on the kind of domestic cervid, referred to in clause (a)(i) or (ii). (2) If there is any change in a farm inventory previously reported under this section, the operator shall report the change to the Director within 90 days after the change. Antler Provisions Removing velvet antler 37 (1) A person shall not remove velvet antler from a live domestic cervid unless that person is (a) a registered veterinarian as defined in the Veterinary Profession Act or a person under the direct supervision of a registered veterinarian, or (b) an operator certified by the Alberta Elk Commission and the domestic cervid is from the operator’s diversified livestock farm. (2) A person removing velvet antler shall ensure that it is removed humanely in accordance with the standards set out in the Velvet Antler Removal Certification Program as developed and approved by the Alberta Elk Commission and the Alberta Veterinary Medical Association. (3) An operator referred to in subsection (1)(b) shall comply with all terms and conditions of the certification referred to in that clause or on which that certification was given. Tagging velvet antler 38 (1) If an operator proposes to transfer possession of velvet antler from a present domestic cervid or to move velvet antler out of a diversified livestock farm, the operator shall ensure that the velvet antler is identified with an antler tag or other approved antler identifier immediately before the earlier of the transfer and the movement from the farm. (2) A person shall not remove an antler tag or other approved animal identifier affixed in accordance with subsection (1) before the velvet antler (a) is exported from Alberta, or (b) is lawfully altered in accordance with the Food and Drugs Act (Canada). Tagging hard antler with skull plate attached 39 (1) This section does not apply to cut hard antler. (2) Except where section 30(4) applies, an operator who takes possession of or transfers to another person possession of hard antler with skull plate attached from a domestic cervid shall ensure that the hard antler is immediately identified with an antler tag or other approved antler identifier. (3) A person in possession of hard antler with skull plate attached that has been identified under subsection (2) shall ensure that it remains so identified until (a) it is exported from Alberta, (b) that person lawfully ceases to be in possession of it, or (c) the Director allows otherwise. Tag requirements 40 (1) Each antler tag and ear tag must (a) be provided by, or be issued in Alberta and in the form approved by, the Director for the purposes of section 18, 38 or 39, as the case may be, and (b) bear a unique Alberta number. (2) The Director may approve other animal identifiers and antler identifiers as other approved animal identifiers and other approved antler identifiers for the purposes of section 18, 38 or 39, as the case may be. Miscellaneous Onus of proof re wildlife legislation 41 Section 141.3 of the Wildlife Regulation (AR 143/97) applies. Liability for strays 42 (1) In this section, (a) “person” includes, subject to section 25 of the Act, the Crown and any individual acting on the Crown’s behalf; (b) references to damage being done include any injury or other harm caused. (2) If a domestic cervid strays and (a) damage is done to property, including wildlife, (i) by the stray, or (ii) by any person who is attempting to capture or kill the stray, or (b) expense is reasonably incurred in lawfully attempting to capture or kill or in maintaining or transporting the stray, the operator is, and if the operator did not own the animal immediately before it strayed, the operator and the owner of the animal at that time are jointly and severally liable for that damage or expense, or for both, except to the extent that the damage or expense is due to the fault of the person experiencing or incurring it. (3) In determining whether subsection (2) excludes liability for any damage or expense, the damage or expense is not to be treated as due to the fault of the person experiencing or incurring it by reason only that the person could have prevented it by fencing the person’s land. (4) A person is liable for any damage or expense referred to in subsection (2) if that damage or expense results from a domestic cervid straying because that person (a) opens and does not close or properly close a gate, or (b) tampers with, damages or destroys a gate or fence. (5) Nothing in subsection (4) restricts any liability under subsections (2) and (3), and the liability may be apportioned among persons liable under this section. (6) When section 23(5)(c) applies, the operator and the owner of the stray, if applicable, assume the liability referred to in subsection (2) to the Crown with respect to the costs referred to in section 23(5)(c). (7) A person has a right of action under this section for any damage or expense experienced or incurred by the person. Minister approval of codes, etc. 43 (1) For the purposes of section 34(1) of the Act, the Minister may approve a code, standard or guideline relating to the operation of harvest preserves by written approval that (a) identifies the code, standard or guideline by title, the date of approval and the issuing body, (b) specifies whether the approval is in whole or in part and, if in part, identifies the provisions approved, and (c) specifies if approval is of the code, standard or guideline as it reads on a specific date or as amended from time to time. (2) The Minister must publish notice of an approval under subsection (1) on a website of the Minister’s department. (3) The Minister may, at the Minister’s discretion, review an approval made under subsection (1) and amend, replace or revoke the approval. Repeal 44 The Domestic Cervid Industry Regulation (AR 188/2014) is repealed. Expiry 45 For the purpose of ensuring that this Regulation is reviewed for ongoing relevancy and necessity, with the option that it may be repassed in its present or an amended form following a review, this Regulation expires on October 31, 2031. Coming into force 46 This Regulation comes into force on the coming into force of section 5(18) of the Red Tape Reduction Statutes Amendment Act, 2025 (No. 2) .