Animals > Animal Diseases  

Reportable Diseases, Immediately Notifiable
and Annually Notifiable Diseases

A guide for the agri-food
community and laboratories

To prevent the transmission of animal diseases in Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) must be notified of the introduction or presence of certain animal diseases in the domestic population, as outlined in the Health of Animals Act and Regulations.

Reportable diseases

These diseases are outlined in the Health of Animals Act and Regulations (http://laws.justice.gc.ca./en/H-3.3/fulltoc.html) and are usually of significant importance to human or animal health or to the Canadian economy. Animal owners, veterinarians and laboratories are required to immediately report the presence of an animal that is contaminated or suspected of being contaminated with one of these diseases to a CFIA district veterinarian. Control or eradication measures will be applied immediately.

Immediately notifiable diseases
(for laboratories only)

In general, immediately notifiable diseases are diseases exotic to Canada for which there are no control or eradication programs.

The CFIA can undertake control measures for such diseases when notified of their presence in Canada. This category also includes some rare indigenous diseases. A herd or flock of origin must be certified as being free from these diseases in order to meet import requirements of trading partners.

Only laboratories are required to contact the CFIA regarding the suspicion or diagnosis of one of these diseases. Information must be forwarded by e-mail to the Animal Disease Surveillance Unit.
E-mail: notification@inspection.gc.ca
Fax: 613-228-6675 (attention: notification)

Annually notifiable diseases
(for laboratories only)

Annually notifiable diseases are diseases for which Canada must submit an annual report to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) indicating their presence within Canada. In general, they are diseases that are present in Canada, but are not classified as reportable or immediately notifiable.

All veterinary laboratories are required to comment on Canada's report to the OIE, which is prepared each February by the CFIA’s Animal Disease Surveillance Unit.

For more information, you can visit the CFIA Web site at www.inspection.gc.ca, or contact the nearest CFIA district veterinarian using the listing in the blue pages of your local telephone directory.

Importation of animal pathogens

The importation and use of animal and zoonotic pathogens is regulated by the Health of Animals Act and Regulations. Facilities working with animal or zoonotic pathogens must comply with the "Containment Standards for Veterinary Facilities". This can be found at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/sci/bio/bioe.shtml.

Import permits and facility certification can be obtained from the Biohazard Containment and Safety Division of the Laboratories Directorate of the CFIA. For more information please contact:

Biohazard Containment and Safety Division
159 Cleopatra Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0Y9
Tel: 613-221-7088
Fax: 613-228-6129

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