Main
Page - BSE
On September 14, 2007, the United States Department of Agriculture announced its
intention to implement its Final Rule on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) risk. When
it comes in effect, this initiative will open up new opportunities for Canadian exporters,
primarily by allowing exports to the U.S. of a broader range of cattle and meat and
products derived from them.
The final rule opens the border to the following:
live cattle and other bovines (i.e., bison) for any use, including breeding, born on or
after, March 1, 1999. (under the previous rule only cattle under 30 months and destined
for immediate slaughter or restricted feedlots were eligible);
meat and meat products from animals of any age;
blood and blood products derived from bovines, collected under certain conditions; and
casings and part of the small intestine derived from bovines.
In preparation for the changes, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has worked
with the Canadian cattle industry and animal health practitioners and the U.S. Department
of Agriculture to address the associated technical requirements. The CFIA is
re-accrediting private veterinarians across the country to certify that Canadian exports
are in compliance with the new requirements.
The CFIA export certificates for live animals have been revised to meet the new
requirements. As a result of the Final Rule, certification has been simplified with the
elimination of some requirements, such as the need to confirm that animals are not
pregnant. Certification for animals going to slaughter includes:
an animal health inspection,
age verification, and
permanent identification requirements.
Additional marking (tattoo or brand) is required for animals being exported for other
purposes (e.g. breeding or show) and a tuberculosis test may be needed for certain animals
originating from Manitoba.
Restrictions on sheep and goats have not changed. These animals may be imported for
immediate slaughter and feeding prior to slaughter in the U.S. provided they are less than
12 months of age. Sheep and goats for breeding purposes remain prohibited.
Export certificates
Canadian Veterinary Health Certificates must be obtained for all exports of live cattle
and other bovines. Primary inspection and certification procedures will be conducted by
private veterinary practitioners accredited by the CFIA.
Accredited veterinarians must use the export certificate supplied by the CFIA and
follow the inspection process prescribed by the Accredited Veterinarian Manual. Once an
export certificate has been completed by an accredited veterinarian, it must be endorsed
by the CFIA. The endorsed certificate will then be returned to the accredited veterinarian
or the exporter to accompany the shipment of animals. Unless the health status of the
animals to be exported changes, the certificate is valid for 30 days from the inspection
date.
The export certificate must confirm that the following U.S. animal health and
identification requirements have been met:
Animal health
All animals were born in the United States or Canada or were legally imported into
Canada from a region recognized by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a region
not restricted due to BSE.
All animals have been under no movement restrictions within Canada or the U.S. for at
least 60 days prior to importation into the U.S.
Veterinary inspections must verify all animals are free from any evidence of
communicable diseases. All animals must not have been exposed to any such diseases during
the 60 days previous to the inspection.
The animals are not in quarantine in Canada.
Pregnant animals are no longer restricted so pregnancy tests and a segregation period
between males and females are not required.
Animals not for immediate slaughter
There are additional requirements for animals that are not going directly for
slaughter:
Sexually intact (non-castrated) animals over 4 weeks old which have resided in Manitoba
within 60 days preceding export must have tested negative for bovine tuberculosis.
Animals must be branded or tattooed (see Identification).
Age verification
All animals for export must have been born after March 1, 1999 - the date recognized by
the USDA as the effective implementation of Canadas ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban.
Under agreement with the USDA, the confirmation of an animals age can be done in one
of three ways:
birth records agreeable to the accredited veterinarian;
dental examination (for full eruption of the eighth permanent incisor); or
visual inspection of animals up to three years of age.
Identification
All animals for export must be identified with official Canadian Cattle Identification
Agency ear tags.
All animals for breeding, feeding or shows must be humanely branded CN on the
right hip or carry a CAN tattoo in the left ear. Hot or freeze branding is
permitted. Brands must be two to three inches in height.
Animals for immediate slaughter do not require a brand or tattoo.
Transporting animals
For animals going to slaughter, transport vehicles must move directly from the
exporting premises to the port of entry where they will be sealed by a USDA officer before
proceeding directly to the designated slaughter establishment.
Shipments must be accompanied by the official Canadian export certificate. The
requirement that transport trucks be sealed with official federal seals prior to shipping
in Canada has been eliminated.
Be prepared
Exporters should contact the CFIA District veterinarian or their accredited
veterinarian in order to get a copy of the export certificates and the details with
respect to the certification of the animals. The export certificates are also
available at the following address on the CFIA website:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/export/bovine/bovine.shtml.
Additional Requirements
Unrelated to the requirements of the U.S. final rule, the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA) requires exporters of live animals intended for food use (i.e.
slaughter) to provide prior notice before animals enter the U.S. As well, Canadian
commercial feedlots exporting live animals to the U.S. are required to be registered with
the FDA. Prior notice must be received and confirmed electronically by the FDA no more
than five days before arrival and no fewer than two hour by land for animals arriving by
road.
Meat and other bovine products
Meat and meat products from animals of any age are now eligible for export to the U.S.
As under the previous rule, those tissues known to be capable of harbouring BSE (specified
risk materials), must be removed from meat prior to export. As was the case previously,
meat and meat products for export to the U.S. must be processed at federally registered
slaughter plants. Shipments must be certified as inspected by the CFIA.
For more information, please contact a CFIA
district office (listed in the blue pages of the telephone book).
Questions and Answers
2007-11-16 - Notice to Industry
