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Policies / Procedures Canadian Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) for Small Ruminants
(Ovine/Caprine) Import Policies
AHPD-DSAE-IE-2001-17-6
Countries designated as FREE:
A country is considered by Canada to be free from BSE if the following conditions are
met. A questionnaire will be forwarded to a country and upon satisfactory evaluation of
the response pertaining to the criteria listed below, Canada will designate that country
free from BSE as per Article 2.3.13.1 of the Office International des Epizooties (OIE)
International Animal Health Code.
| Either |
| a. |
For the preceding seven (7) years, the country of origin must have reported
no reported clinical cases of BSE in indigenous bovines, AND |
| b. |
no cases of BSE have been attributed to the country of origin from another
country through epidemiological investigation, OR |
| c |
all cases of BSE have been clearly demonstrated to originate directly from
the importation of live cattle from a BSE affected country and no cases of BSE have been
attributed to the country of origin from another country through epidemiological
investigation. |
| AND (all of the following) |
| d. |
The country of origin must have the animal health legislative authority to
regulate BSE and the zoosanitary infrastructure to enforce surveillance, monitoring,
eradication and import controls for BSE. |
| e. |
BSE must have been made a nationally notifiable disease in the country of
origin for the preceding seven (7) years. |
| f. |
The country of origin must have an eradication policy for BSE which
includes the investigation of suspect animals and, if confirmed positive, their slaughter
and destruction and the depopulation of any bovine animal that epidemiological
investigation identifies as potentially having been exposed to the disease agent or common
risk factor. Animals to be disposed of must be excluded from both the human and animal
food chain. |
| g. |
The country of origin must have implemented a surveillance and monitoring
program for BSE in which clinically suspect cattle older than 24 months of age with
clinical signs of progressive neurologic disease are subject to laboratory examination in
accordance with the current diagnostic protocols recommended by the Office International
des Epizooties (Manual of Standards for Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines). The BSE
surveillance and monitoring system must place emphasis on risks, taking into account the
guidelines in Appendix 3.8.3 of the OIE International Animal Health Code. Records of the
number and results of the investigations should be maintained for at least 7 years. |
| h. |
The country of origin has performed a risk analysis of feed sources as risk
factors for BSE and appropriate risk management options have been implemented and
effectively enforced; eg. meat-and-bone meal feed ban, safe sourcing of raw materials and
rendering specifications. |
| i. |
The country of origin has a policy which would effectively manage or
prevent risks of BSE associated with the importation. This policy, at a minimum, should
include but not be limited to live ruminants and other species known to be naturally
affected with BSE, ruminant embryos and ova and meat and bone meal. |
| j. |
The country of origin must have on-going education programme for
veterinarians, farmers, and workers involved in transportation, marketing and slaughter of
cattle to encourage reporting of all cases of neurological disease in adult cattle.
|
Countries that are designated
as free of BSE by Canada, are not subject to any import conditions specific to BSE for
any bovine commodity. Appendix A shows the countries currently designated as free of BSE.
The importation of animals and their related products is regulated by the Health of
Animals Act and Regulations (Parts II to VII).
1. Live Ovine / Caprine
May be imported only from countries designated free from BSE .
2. Ovine / Caprine Embryos
May be imported only from countries designated free from BSE.
3. Ovine / Caprine Semen
Ovine and caprine semen are exempt from import requirements specific to BSE.
4. Animal Products and By-Products (including edible offal and by-products)
(for uses other than animal feed; see separate section on animal feed)
4.1 Exemptions: the following products are exempt from import requirements
attributable to BSE.
| a. |
milk, milk products and derivatives thereof (including casein and lactose); |
| b. |
hides, skins, hair and products derived from these tissues (including
gelatin and collagen prepared exclusively from hides and skins); |
| c. |
gelatin and collagen other than as described in (b), providing that it is
not for use in livestock feeds |
| d. |
products produced by subjecting bones to rigorous processes of extraction
and purification such as: ossein, bone ash, bone charcoal, bone oil, dicalcium phosphate; |
| e. |
products and by-products containing bovine material sourced from tissues
with no detected infectivity for BSE *, that have been subjected to
rigorous processes of extraction and purification such as: animal glue, oleosterin,
triglycerides, glycerol, sorbitan esters; |
| f. |
pet chews
|
*Tissues with no detected infectivity
| skeletal muscle, heart, kidney, colostrum, milk, discrete adipose tissues, salivary
gland, saliva, thyroid, mammary gland, ovary, testis, seminal testis, cartilaginous
tissue, connective tissue, skin, hair, blood clot, serum, urine, bile, faeces |
4.2 Meat, Meat Products of Ovine / Caprine (edible)
This category includes edible tallow. May be imported only from countries designated
free from BSE.
4.3 Rendered Animal (all species) Protein and Products Containing Rendered Animal
Protein (inedible)
This category includes all rendered material that contains animal protein including
tallow containing protein, pet food and fertilizers containing animal proteins.
May be imported only from countries designated free from BSE.
4.4 Inedible Tallow
Tallow containing protein may be imported only from countries designated free from BSE.
Protein-free rendered tallow and derivatives made from this tallow may be imported from
non BSE-free countries if accompanied by certification pertaining to absence of protein
(maximum level of insoluble impurities of 0.15% in weight) and certification pertaining to
measures to prevent cross contamination.
4.5 Animal Blood
Sprayed dried blood is considered a rendered animal protein and may be imported only
from countries designated free from BSE.
Bulk fetal bovine serum may be imported under permit, with safety testing requirements,
from some non European countries. Imported product may not be used for the manufacture of
veterinary biologics.
4.6 Livestock Feed
In addition to restrictions on animal products listed in parts 4.3, 4.4, and 4.5 above,
all imported animal feeds must comply with Part XIV, Sections 162 - 171 of the Health
of Animals Regulations detailing that anything that is, or that contains any, protein
that originated from a mammal, other than a porcine or an equine (but not including milk,
blood, gelatin, rendered animal / fat or their products) shall not be fed to a ruminant
and must be clearly labelled.
4.7 Products and By-Products Containing Ruminant Specific Risk Materials
List of specified risk materials:
"Bovinae specified risk materials" means
a) the skull, brain, trigeminal ganglia, eyes, spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia of
animals of the sub-family Bovinae aged 30 months or older;
b) the distal ileum and tonsils of animals of the sub-family Bovidae
of all ages. |
May be imported only from countries designated free from BSE.
Requests for exemptions from this prohibition are reviewed on a case-by-case basis,
considering product, source of material of animal origin, manufacturing methods and
intended use.
5. Veterinary Biologics
5.1 Veterinary Biologics Containing Material of Ovine or Caprine Origin for Animal
Administration
May be imported from countries designated free from BSE.
Importation from countries not designated free of BSE is prohibited. Requests for
exemptions from this prohibition are reviewed on a case-by-case basis, considering
product, source of material of animal origin, manufacturing methods and intended use. |
