PARIS, France, May 25, 2007 - The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and
Agri-Food and Minister Responsible for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, today
announced that two additional Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) laboratories have
been designated as international reference labs by the World Organization for Animal
Health (OIE), during its 75th General Session.
"This recognition by the world's pre-eminent animal health organization
highlights Canada's role as a leading contributor to international science in the
management and eradication of animal diseases," said Minister Strahl. "It's
a tribute to the expertise and commitment to excellence of the individuals working in
these labs to protect animal health and maintain the safety of Canada's food
production system."
The two laboratories, located at the CFIA's Fallowfield research complex in
Ottawa, specialize in Scrapie and Chronic Wasting Disease.
A lab designated as a Reference Laboratory by the OIE functions as a centre of
expertise and standardization for a particular disease or topic; develops new procedures
for its diagnosis and control; provides scientific and technical training for scientific
personnel from other OIE member countries; coordinates scientific and technical research,
in collaboration with other labs; and provides diagnostic testing and surge capacity to
other countries, among other functions.
Minister Strahl also congratulated the Canadian Cooperative Wildlife Health Centre,
based at the University of Saskatchewan, on receiving OIE designation as an international
collaborating centre. The designations announced today bring to 20 the number of OIE
designated Reference Laboratories and Collaborating Centres located in Canada. Of these,
14 are part of the CFIA's laboratory system, one resides within Fisheries and Oceans
Canada, one with the Public Health Agency of Canada, three are located in Veterinary
Colleges, and one is a private laboratory.
The OIE also re-affirmed Canada's status as free of two highly contagious diseases
of livestock - Foot and Mouth Disease and Rinderpest - and Canada was one of six countries
recognized as a controlled risk for BSE.
Further, Dr. Norm Willis, Canada's delegate to the OIE from 1991 to 1999 and past
President of the OIE International Committee (1997-2000), received the Gold Medal for
Meritorious Service, the first time the OIE's highest honour has been awarded to a
Canadian. Dr. Willis has made many contributions to animal health science in Canada,
notably as one of the founders of the National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease in
Winnipeg.
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For information:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Media relations: 613-228-6682
