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Animals > Animal Diseases > Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy > Safeguards Canada's Enhanced Feed Ban"Mad cow disease" or bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a progressive, fatal disease in cattle affecting the nervous system. Scientists believe that the primary spread of BSE in cattle is caused by feeding protein products made from infected cattle. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) introduced a feed ban in 1997 in accordance with recommended international standards to limit the spread of BSE through cattle feed. With the subsequent finding of BSE in Canadian-born cattle, the CFIA announced enhancements to the ban on June 26, 2006, to further reduce the potential spread of the disease. Canada's current feed banThe current feed ban prohibits protein-based materials, including meat and bone meal, derived from defined mammals, to be fed to ruminants such as cattle. Certain animal proteins products that are not known to pose BSE-related risks are exempt from the feed ban. These exempt products include those derived from swine, horse, poultry and fish proteins, as well as milk, blood and gelatin products derived from any species. In addition, non-protein animal products such as rendered animal fats (e.g. beef tallow, lard, poultry fat) can also be fed to ruminants. All feed containing materials prohibited by the feed ban is required to carry a statement to warn producers about appropriate use. Protein materials prohibited under Canada's current feed ban are permitted for use in feeds for poultry, swine and other non-ruminant species, which are not considered susceptible to BSE. Enhanced feed controlsThe outcome-based changes announced on June 26, 2006, build on the existing framework of the 1997 ban and include several new requirements. The most important enhancement prohibits certain tissues, known as specified risk material (SRM) from being used in all livestock feed, pet food and fertilizers. SRM are tissues that, in BSE-infected cattle, contain the agent that may transmit the disease. These tissues include the skull, brain, trigeminal ganglia (nerves attached to the brain), eyes, tonsils, spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (nerves attached to the spinal cord) of cattle aged 30 months or older and the distal ileum (portion of the small intestine) of cattle of all ages. SRM have been banned as an ingredient in feed for cattle and other ruminant animals since 1997. Removing these tissues from all animal feeds will address the risks associated with potential contamination during feed production, distribution and storage, as well as any inappropriate use of feeds on farms. SRM will also be prohibited from use in pet food and fertilizer materials. This measure is meant to address the potential exposure of cattle to these products. The primary goal, or outcome, of enhancements to the feed ban is the elimination of more than 99% of potential infectivity from entering the feed system. The default method for achieving this objective is the removal of all SRM; however, regulated parties may develop and propose alternative approaches, with supporting scientific data, that can be shown to achieve the same level of protection as full SRM removal. Canada's enhanced feed ban will enter into force on July 12, 2007. A phase-in period of approximately one year is being provided to allow regulated parties to make adjustments to infrastructure and practices in order to comply with the new requirements. An additional six months is being provided to small operations, which may face specific challenges in complying with certain requirements of the ban. During the phase-in period, an awareness campaign will be undertaken to ensure that all regulated parties are fully aware of their responsibilities. After this time, the CFIA will begin enforcing the new requirements through regular, rigorous inspections. SRM managementThe CFIA will control the collection, treatment, disposal, destruction or alternative use of SRM by way of permits. A system of permits and verifications will provide additional assurance that SRM do not re-enter human or animal food chains. The CFIA has and will continue to work closely with provinces during the phase-in period before the enhancements come into effect to plan for the effective control and disposal or alternative use of SRM. In the short term, SRM are expected to be managed by way of disposal (e.g., burial in landfills or destroyed by incineration). Alternative uses for SRM such as processes that can generate biofuel, are expected to emerge over time. For more informationContact your local CFIA office or visit the following webpages:
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