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Policies / Procedures Criteria for High Security Quarantine Facilities
AHPD-DSAE-IE-2003-5-1-C
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A high security quarantine facility would be required when:
- importing animals from countries that we have insufficient knowledge or confidence
pertaining to their veterinary infrastructure, surveillance or diagnostic capabilities
- importing animals of species with which we have minimal experience or a lack of
confidence in the performance of diagnostic tests
Location / Environment
- if located in Canada must be a level 3 animal facility with hepa filtration of exhausted
air
- alternately, quarantine facility must be located on a land mass distinctly separate from
mainland Canada and must be without commercial livestock operations
- location must be isolated from other susceptible species of animals (according to hazard
list from risk assessment and host range as documented in hazard list for species) unless
exhausted air is adequately filtered for disease agents
- all untreated drainage and effluent should be prevented from coming into contact with
any animals and from contaminating waterways
Building / Facility Specifications
Fencing
- the site must be fenced to prevent the approach of wildlife, stray livestock and
unauthorized persons and contain the quarantined animals should they escape from the
building
- the height of the fence should take into consideration the species of wildlife in the
surrounding area and the time of year (e.g. snowfall)
- rodent control, fly and other vector controls acceptable to the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency (CFIA) must be exercised
Feed / water / bedding
- the building must have a source of clean water, adequate for the consumption of the
animals to be quarantined and any necessary cleaning and disinfection
- water must be suitable for human consumption
- feed and bedding must be stored inside a building within the perimeter fence
- bedding, feed and water must not be exposed to migratory birds
- there must be sufficient space available to store all feed and bedding required for the
entire quarantine period
- if other than North American, the country of origin of the feed must be pre-approved by CFIA
Waste handling / disposal
- manure, urine and used bedding must be held under the same quarantine conditions as the
animals
- once the animals have successfully completed the quarantine, the manure may be disposed
of in a manner acceptable to the supervising veterinary authority
- carcasses of animals that die during the quarantine must be disposed of by a method
approved by the supervising veterinary authority
- disposal plans must be available and approved prior to the start of the quarantine,
including a nearby site adequate for burial or incineration of the total number of animals
housed in the quarantine
- waste materials that have been used for handling / treating or testing the animals must
be disinfected e.g. autoclaved or chemical disinfectant or destroyed eg. incinerated in a
manner approved by the supervising veterinarian
Building
- the building must be sound and in good repair
- the building must have the capacity to receive and house the total number of imported
animals and any natural increases that may occur during the quarantine period (including
eggs if relevant)
- facilities and equipment adequate for handling the species to be quarantined must be
available
- there must be an isolation area or pen that can be used to segregate animals for
observation, treatment or parturition
- a separate area for post mortems and the capabilities to store carcasses and or tissues
for further examination or testing must be available
- prior to receiving the animals for quarantine, the facility must have been cleaned (no
visible manure or organic debris) and disinfected in a manner approved by the supervising
veterinary authority
- shower facilities must be available and appropriately located
- all equipment (including tractors) must be cleaned and disinfected prior to use at the
quarantine facility. The equipment should remain dedicated to the facility for the entire
quarantine period. Prior to removal from the quarantine premises, the equipment must be
cleaned and disinfected to the satisfaction of the supervising veterinary authority.
Staff
- veterinary supervision is mandatory for the entire quarantine period
- the supervising veterinarian is to be either a CFIA veterinarian, a Canadian
veterinarian designated by CFIA for these purposes or a veterinarian of the central
veterinary service of the host country
- the attendants and veterinarians must have no contact with other suspectable species
during the quarantine period
- shower in may be required if there is a concern with introduction of endemic diseases
- personnel entering the quarantine must removed street clothing and jewelry and change
into dedicated facility clothing and boots
- disposable gloves must be worn when handling sick animals and hands must be washed after
removing gloves
- shower out is required on exit (including hair, beards) and disinfection of eye glasses
Security
- the facility must have a controlled entry / exit point; 24 hour security should be
maintained at the quarantine (electronic security may be incorporated)
- security officers would have to be trained individuals aware of biosecurity concerns
- the quarantine facility must have signage indication that there is a quarantine and no
visitors are allowed
- visitors are strictly prohibited at all times
Animals
- the quarantine facility must be reserved in advance
- no other animals are permitted on the premises during the quarantine period
- mature males are to be kept separated from mature females to prevent breeding and to
prevent injuries from aggressive behaviour
- breeding of or collection of germplasm from imported animals is prohibited during the
quarantine period unless it is necessary for a required import testing procedure
Records
full records must be kept for each animal detailing the following:
- country of origin
- name and address of owner / importer
- date of entry and release
- clinical history during quarantine
- tests and treatments performed
- pens occupied during quarantine
- a log (including date and time) must be kept of all people entering the quarantine
facility. Visits by the supervising veterinarians must be logged.
Cost
- the importer is responsible for the cost of the quarantine facilities, all necessary
equipment, feed and bedding, attendants wages, treatment, veterinary care and any
testing or post mortem examinations that are required
Reviewed: April 11, 2003 |