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Annex Z-1

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Contents of a memorandum to Program Network Directors signed by the Director of Food of Animal Origin on January 12, 2004 concerning Interim BSE Measures - Export to the United States of America:

"Following the diagnosis of a case of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in an adult Holstein cow in the State of Washington in December 2003, the United States Department of Agriculture announced several actions to provide additional safeguards and bolster the United States protection system against BSE.  The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) will be enforcing these actions in domestic beef slaughter and processing plants.  Therefore, Canada, as an exporting country, is required to adopt these or equivalent measures when producing beef products in registered establishments for export to the United States.

The Government of Canada has decided to implement, on an interim basis, the new United States policy on non-ambulatory disabled cattle in slaughter establishments eligible to export beef and beef products to the United States.  This action will ensure that market access if maintained while discussions continue with FSIS officials on alternative approaches taking into account the measures that Canada already has in place to prevent BSE infectivity from entering the human food supply.

Therefore, effective immediately, non-ambulatory disabled cattle as defined by FSIS (see below), are banned from slaughter in Canadian registered establishments eligible for export to the United States.  Such cattle cannot enter the slaughter facility and must, if on the premises and alive, be humanely handled until they are euthanized.   For humane reasons, any non-ambulatory cattle on the premises of a registered establishment eligible to export to the United States must be euthanized on site.

FSIS is defining "non-ambulatory disabled cattle" as: cattle "that cannot rise from a recumbent position or that cannot walk, including, but non limited to, those with broken appendages, severed tendons or ligaments, nerve paralysis, fractured vertebral column or metabolic conditions".  This definition includes cattle that are non-ambulatory due to an acute injury on route to the establishment during unloading or anywhere on the premises.

Other new measures such as removal of SRM and prohibition of stunning techniques are already in place in Canada and current policies are deemed to satisfy the United States requirements.  New standards are being implemented in the United States for MSM and AMR (finely textured beef).  However, these products are not eligible for export to the United States at this time.  We will keep you informed if additional requirements apply to these products when our review of the new USDA measures is completed.

Please advise our staff and operators of all beef slaughtering establishments eligible to export to the United States that the new requirement referred to above are effective immediately.

Thank you for your cooperation."

Annex C | Annex D | Annex D-1 | Annex E | Annex J (PDF) | Annex K (PDF) | Annex L | Annex M | Annex Q |
Annex R | Annex S | Annex T | Annex U | Annex W | Annex W-1 | Annex W-1 | Annex X | Annex Y |
Annex Z | Annex Z-1 | Annex Z-2 |