What is the Provincial Premises Registry Initiative (PPR)?
The PPR Initiative is a premises registry available to all agri-food business owners and operators in Ontario so they can receive a Premises Identification Number (Premises ID or PID) and certificate. The PPR is an initiative from the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness under the Protection and Risk Resilience: One Health, Food Safety and Animal Health Designated Program set out in Part V.15 under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership Strategic Initiatives Program (Minister’s Order 0005/2023).
The PPR Initiative is funded under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, a federal-provincial-territorial initiative.
Registration is voluntary. Below are the Guidelines for the Provincial Premises Registry Initiative:
- The PPR Initiative is the only official provincial registry for obtaining an Ontario Premises ID Number for agri-food businesses in Ontario
- There is no cost to register
- The PPR Initiative is available online at www.ontariopid.com. The online registry easy to use, is available 24 hours a day and can be accessed from a computer connected to the internet.
- Registrations can also be made over the phone by calling toll free 1-888-247-4999 during regular business hours (8:00 am to 4:30 pm) Monday through Friday.
- Service is available in English and French.
Who operates the Provincial Premises Registry Initiative?
Agricorp operates the Provincial Premises Registry Initiative on behalf of the Ministry.
What is a Premises ID?
A Premises Identification Number, referred to as a Premises ID or PID, is a number identifying a parcel of land where agri-food activities occur. Each registered parcel of land or premises will receive a unique Premises ID, and a certificate will be issued displaying this number.
Unlike business registration numbers (e.g., Farm Business Registration (FBR), licence or other business identifiers), each Premises ID is linked to a specific parcel of land, not to a business.
Who can apply for a Premises ID?
Agri-food business owners, operators, leasers, or tenants can apply for a Premises ID.
What do I need to register my premises?
To register your premises, you will be asked to provide your Assessment Roll number (ARN) – your tax assessment number from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC).
If you cannot provide an ARN, you will need to provide one of the following:
- Latitude and longitude coordinates from a global positioning system
- Municipal address of the premises to be registered
- Legal land description (lot, concession and township of the premises).
How much will it cost to register my premises?
Registering your premises is quick, easy, and free. Simply fill out the online application form or call us. You will need to describe the agricultural or agri-food activities that take place on the premises as well as the emergency contact information for your business. When registering your premises online be sure to complete all the required fields.
What is a Premises ID used for?
A Premises ID is the first step to an effective traceability system and can lead to business advantages such as operational efficiencies and increasing market access. Also, a Premises ID helps to identify the agri-food activities that take place on a specific parcel of land and provide the contact information for a contact of the premises. In the event of an emergency, knowing the agri-food activities and having up-to-date contact information is critical.
Is an existing or older Premises ID still valid?
Each premises needs to be registered only once. If your premises has already been registered, that Premises ID is still valid and there is no need to register again. However, changes to existing premises should be updated so that Premises IDs can be updated. For example, land sold or a change in agri-food activity would need to be updated in the PPR Initiative.
How will the information collected be used?
Agricorp collects specific business information on behalf of the Ministry for the purposes of:
- Validating premises information in order to assign Premises Identification Numbers
- Capturing premises information data to enable the Ministry to prepare and respond to agri-food incidents.
For details on the collection of agri-food business information by Agricorp for the registration of premises in the Provincial Premises Registry Initiative, review the consent.
No personal information is collected as part of the Provincial Premises Registry Initiative. For details on personal information please see the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act.
Why should agri-food businesses register their premises?
Traceability systems are composed of premises identification, product identification, and product movement records. Premises identification is the first step in establishing a traceability system that can lead to many business advantages, including improving operational efficiencies and increasing market access.
Accurate premises verification and identification will strengthen our agriculture and food industries. High quality location information will assist emergency response efforts by improving emergency preparedness, responsiveness, and management of risk due to natural disasters and diseases of plants or animals.
Enabling rapid identification of locations and facilities, through an accurate and current Provincial Premises Registry Initiative, provides an effective means to isolate and control hazards and outbreaks, as well as establish proactive measures in monitoring, control, and support throughout the incident. Premises identification is an important part of modern and effective approaches to animal health, plant health, food safety, related public health and forces of nature.
When should I update my premises registration?
At a minimum, you should review and update the activities occurring on your registered Premises on an annual basis. In addition, you should update your Premises information anytime there is a change related to your Premises (e.g., Contact information, Activities, etc.).
How do I update my premises registration?
You can update your premises registration, business information, or premises activities by contacting us at 1-888-247-4999 or on our website at www.ontariopid.com.
When updating your premises registration, please remember to be specific and indicate all activities occurring on your premises.
How soon will I receive confirmation of my updated information?
Once your premises information has been updated, a new premises certificate will be issued to you. Most premises certificates are sent out within two business days of receiving your updated information. You may be contacted if any discrepancies or questions arise.
How can I get more information?
You can get more information by visiting the PPR Initiative website at www.ontariopid.com or by calling us toll free at 1-888-247-4999.