| | An announcement by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) was made on July 10, 2006, lifting bluetongue restrictions for all classes of cattle imported year-round into Canada from the United States. Bluetongue is an insect-born disease affecting ruminant animals, including cattle, deer, sheep, and goats. There are no human health risks related to the disease. The disease has little effect on cattle, with sheep and goats being more susceptible. The change in policy is based on an updated scientific risk analysis. Changes to the policy were developed in consultation with a range of stakeholders, including provincial governments, animal health experts and industry. Regulatory processes needed to bring the revised policy into effect will be completed in the coming months. Although the likelihood of a bluetongue outbreak is negligible, the CCA is establishing an indemnity fund to offset any unlikely death losses caused by bluetongue in the sheep and goat industries. For further information on Bluetongue and on the changes to the import policy, visit the CFIA website at www.inspection.gc.ca/ and search for Bluetongue. |
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