The Government of Canada is protecting the resilience of Canada’s rural communities and the Canadian pork sector by supporting prevention and preparedness measures for African swine fever (ASF).

“Animal diseases, including African swine fever, are a serious threat to Canada’s pork sector, and it’s vitally important that all orders of government and industry take steps to prevent and prepare. These projects are a key part of Canada’s efforts to prevent an ASF outbreak while ensuring our pork sector is ready to respond."

- The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

"To be successful in countering foreign animal diseases, cooperation between the federal, provincial, and territorial governments, and industry is crucial. This program not only supports our pork industry’s commitment to prevention and preparation efforts against African swine fever, it also supports efforts to prevent and prepare for other potential foreign animal diseases.”

- Francis Drouin, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food 

“The Canadian Pork Council has been thrilled to work with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) as it delivers on its commitment to industry preparedness through the African Swine Fever Industry Preparedness Program (ASFIPP). This crucial and innovative initiative, part of AAFC's broader efforts to enhance biosecurity and disease management in Canadian agriculture, reflects a shared commitment to safeguarding our pork industry's resilience and sustainability through embracing new ideas and an industry-wide approach. This initiative, and its proactive approach, underscores our commitment to invest in advanced technologies, rigorous training, and collaborative partnerships to fortify our defenses against African Swine Fever and other potential threats. This strategic focus not only protects our swine producers and their livelihoods but also upholds Canada's reputation as a reliable supplier of safe and high-quality pork products globally.”

- René Roy, Chair of the Canadian Pork Council

“We would like to thank the Canadian government for its participation in the efforts to prevent African swine fever. This is a sword of Damocles dangling over the heads of every member of our industry. Les Éleveurs de Porcs is a long-standing, leading partner in this effort, and has been very proactive in advancing the work to ensure that we are ready to manage and limit the damage to farmers caused by such a crisis. This financial assistance is essential, as are compartmentalization and zoning agreements with countries with which we trade pork and pork products.”

- Louis-Philippe Roy, president of the Éleveurs de porcs du Québec and the Équipe québécoise de santé porcine

• Preventing and preparing for foreign animal diseases is a shared responsibility between federal, provincial, and territorial governments, and industry.

• A detection of ASF in Canada would immediately stop exports of pork products and live pigs, which could significantly impact the pork industry, a major economic driver which supports over 100,000 direct and indirect jobs and generates over $24 billion for the Canadian economy.

• ASF is not a threat to human health, it cannot be transmitted from pigs to humans, and it is not a food safety issue. However, it is a contagious and deadly viral disease affecting both domestic and wild pigs.

• Since 2018, ASF has spread through parts of Asia and Europe, and was detected in the Caribbean in 2021. It has never been found in Canada or the United States.

• The $23.4 million ASFIPP was launched in 2022 and to help Canada's pork industry prepare for the possibility of ASF entering the country. The ASFIPP is still accepting applications.

  • African Swine Fever Industry Preparedness Program: Prevention and Preparedness Stream
  • African Swine Fever Industry Preparedness Program: Welfare Slaughter and Disposal Stream

• The Canadian pork industry exports roughly two-thirds of its pork production and millions of live hogs per year. In 2023, pork exports were valued at $4.7 billion, excluding the 6.7 million live swine exported throughout the year.

Related products

• Backgrounder: African Swine Fever Industry Preparedness Program projects

Associated links

• African swine fever (CFIA)
• African Swine Fever Industry Preparedness Program (AAFC)
• ASF Executive Management Board (Animal Health Canada)
• Pan-Canadian ASF Action Plan (Animal Health Canada, PDF)
• New milestone reached in the protection of Canadian pigs and pork industry against African swine fever
• Government of Canada helping pork producers prepare for a possible outbreak of African swine fever
• Minister MacAulay announces support for Animal Health Canada’s work to prevent and prepare for animal disease outbreaks

For media:

Francis Chechile
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
francis.chechile@agr.gc.ca

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
aafc.mediarelations-relationsmedias.aac@agr.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn
Web: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada