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Government Expands Anthrax Compensation

OTTAWA, September 6, 2006 – The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, has extended anthrax compensation to owners of bison, llamas, alpacas and cervids such as white-tailed deer and elk. These animal owners were not previously eligible for assistance.

Anthrax is a naturally occurring, non-contagious disease that is most often contracted by animals when they ingest spores which have been exposed as a result of erosion or flooding.

"Canada’s new government recognises the difficulty many producers are facing due to the current anthrax outbreak. That is why we are extending support to a wider range of animal owners," said Minister Strahl. "This assistance is designed to help owners cover the costs of carcass disposal and disinfection of equipment and facilities."

Compensation is paid to owners whose animals have been certified to have died as a result of anthrax exposure. The new terms and conditions will be applied to animals that died after April 1, 2006 in order to assist owners whose herds were recently affected by anthrax.

Payment will be considered only after a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) veterinarian has verified that animals have died due to anthrax exposure and been properly disposed of, and that the contaminated premises have been cleaned and disinfected as required by the CFIA anthrax control program.

Compensation for the expanded list will range from $100 to $500 per animal. Compensation was previously available only to owners of cattle, horses, swine, sheep and goats.

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To obtain additional information about anthrax, visit the CFIA website at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/disemala/anthchar/anthchare.shtml

For more information, contact:

Media Relations
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
(613) 228-6682

• Anthrax Compensation Terms and Conditions, No. 2