| Statutory Authority |
1. |
Enabling legislation is the Health of
Animals Act and Regulations. Current versions of the legislation as well
as any recent amendments are found on the CFIA’s Web site. BSE is listed as a
reportable disease in the Reportable Diseases Regulations, which are prescribed
pursuant to section 2 of the Health of Animals Act. Any person suspecting an
animal of demonstrating signs consistent with BSE must therefore report the animal to a CFIA
veterinarian at the nearest district office.
Failure to report such a disease is punishable by fines not to exceed $250,000.00 or two
years imprisonment. The definition of prohibited material for feeding to ruminants,
requirements for feed labelling, and record keeping requirements are detailed in Part XIV
of the Health of Animals Regulations.
The enabling legislation for SRM removal is both the Food and Drug Regulations
and the Health of Animals Regulations. |
| Policy Statement |
2. |
In 1997, to prevent the potential transmission and amplification of the BSE
agent, Canada banned the feeding of rendered protein products (other than milk, blood,
gelatin or rendered animal fat) from ruminant animals (cattle, sheep, goats, bison, elk or
deer) to other ruminants. Upon the detection of BSE, Canada’s primary strategy for
eliminating BSE infected animals to avoid further challenge to the human food and animal
feed chains is stamping out pursuant to Section 48 of the Health of Animals Act. |
| Principles for Control and Eradication |
3. |
The characteristics of the disease, specifically the primary route of
transmission being feed, and the OIE requirements establish the strategic framework for
control and eradication of BSE in Canada. This strategy includes the following elements:
- Identification of the probable source of BSE agent;
- Quarantine, destruction and testing of the clinically affected animals;
- Quarantine, destruction and appropriate disposal of the carcasses from the clinically
affected animals to prevent their entry into the food or feed chain;
- Identification, quarantine, destruction and testing of the equivalent risk animals*;
- Quarantine, destruction and appropriate disposal of the carcasses of positive equivalent
risk animals to prevent their entry into the food or feed chain.
* In exceptional circumstances, equivalent risk animals will be quarantined for an
extended period until destroyed and tested.
These components form the foundation of the response strategy and will be implemented
regardless of whether the affected animal is imported or indigenous. |
| Case Definition |
4. |
A bovine exhibiting all of the following signs upon clinical examination
must be classified as a BSE suspect case and all diagnostic samples
collected must be submitted as confirmatory negative. Such an animal is: |
| BSE Suspect |
|
- appropriate age (approximately 24 months of age or older)
- in poor body condition
- ataxic (difficulty turning, falls)
- exhibiting an abnormal head carriage
- nervous
- apprehensive
- exhibiting hyperaesthesia and tremors.
|
| Inconclusive |
|
An inconclusive BSE test is a sample submitted to a non CFIA TSE laboratory
which is non negative on the preliminary screening tests. |
| Non Negative |
|
A BSE non negative is a sample submitted to a CFIA
laboratory (usually Winnipeg) which is non negative on the preliminary screening tests. |
| Confirmed BSE Positive |
|
A confirmed BSE positive is a brain sample submitted to
the National Centre for Foreign Animal Disease (NC-FAD) in Winnipeg, Manitoba, or other
internationally recognized BSE reference laboratory which tests positive by
immunohistochemistry. |
| BSE Equivalent Risk Animals |
|
See 3.3 Premises Control Actions. |
