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NEW MEASURES TO ACCELERATE BSE TESTING PROGRESS

OTTAWA, September 17, 2004 – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency today announced its sample collection strategy to increase the number of cattle tested for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The strategy includes communications to cattle producers and a financial reimbursement initiative.

Canada’s national BSE surveillance program targets animals most likely to be affected by BSE - cattle aged 30 months or older that are dead, dying, diseased or down and cattle of any age exhibiting neurological symptoms. Recognizing that producers are best placed to spot these animals, the Agency is launching an education campaign to encourage producers to report high-risk cattle. The campaign promotes a toll-free number, 1-866-400-4244, which producers from across Canada can call to report an animal that may be eligible for inclusion in the surveillance program.

“A robust surveillance program, with full producer participation, is a critical part of our efforts to maintain and expand international markets,” said Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Andy Mitchell. “It is very important that we test enough animals to assure domestic and international markets that our beef herd is rigorously surveyed. We need to show the world that we are taking responsible actions to detect BSE.”

The Agency is also dedicating $4.1 million between now and December 2005 to a financial reimbursement initiative to accelerate the flow of animals into the surveillance program. Additional resources may be allocated as required beyond 2005. The initiative is intended to offset producers’ costs related to veterinary examination and carcass disposal when these activities result in the collection of an eligible brain sample, which is required for testing. Deadstock collectors, renderers and veterinarians across Canada that are entering into agreements with the Agency are also eligible for reimbursement of additional costs related to the sampling, tracing and holding of carcasses being tested.

The achievement of Canada’s national surveillance commitments is based on a collaborative effort with provinces.  The province of Alberta, which has indicated that it will add provincial funding to increase reimbursement values, will today release the conditions of their contributions. Details will be available on the province of Alberta’s Website at www.agric.gov.ab.ca.

“Alberta fully supports the surveillance program, and we are committed to vigorously pursuing our testing targets,” said Alberta’s Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Shirley McClellan. “These measures will give us the momentum needed to intensify our surveillance efforts.”

Discussions with other provinces are ongoing to establish reimbursement values that reflect the cost and options for carcass disposal and the availability of existing provincial programs to encourage sample collection. The Agency is urging producers to call the toll-free surveillance number for more information

This year, Canada plans to test 8,000 cattle for the disease. In following years, testing levels will increase to at least 30,000 cattle annually. The national surveillance program is designed to estimate the prevalence of BSE in Canada, an important factor in trade negotiations, and to gauge the effectiveness of Canada's measures to prevent the spread of BSE. To date, the program has tested 5,697 animals this year, with all results negative for BSE. Testing results are posted weekly on the Agency's Website, along with additional information about the surveillance program and Canada's other BSE measures.

The Agency plans to launch a broader BSE producer education campaign later this year to promote the full suite of measures in place to protect Canadian food safety and animal health from BSE.

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For information:

MEDIA

Elizabeth Whiting
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food
(613) 759-1761

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Media relations: (613) 228-6682

PRODUCERS
1-866-400-4244

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