The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Health Canada, is monitoring dairy cows for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) as part of the Government of Canada’s One Health Approach. Commercially sold milk and milk products in Canada are subject to mandatory pasteurization, which eliminates harmful…
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has announced immediate import restrictions following a recent outbreak of Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) in Hungary and Slovakia. These measures are crucial to protect Canada’s livestock and mitigate the economic impact of a potential FMD outbreak in the country. FMD susceptible species: Affected commodities: Products and by-products from…
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has announced that the redesigned National Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) surveillance program will take effect on March 7, 2025. Samples collected before March 6, 2025, will continue to be processed under the current program, including applicable incentives. However, samples collected on or after March 7, 2025, will be processed…
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) uses a three-tiered categorization system for evaluating bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) risk including negligible, controlled, and undetermined risk. According to Dr. Penny Greenwood, National Manager of Prion and Equine Programs for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), the system is designed to reflect current knowledge and understanding of…
As show and auction season gets underway, the risk of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is a consideration for exhibitors and organizers. Since early 2024, HPAI (H5N1) outbreaks have occurred in dairy cows across several states. While there haven’t been any confirmed cases in Canada, it’s important to know the biosecurity measures to keep it…
Lost ear tags are a costly and frustrating reality on Canadian cattle ranches. Yet, tags play an integral role in in disease outbreak investigations, as well as in maintaining the credibility of Canada’s traceability system. The Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) both examines and investigates reports of retention issues on an ongoing basis. Most of…
The Government of Canada has announced funding of up to $1,697,850 to Animal Health Canada to support their role in foreign animal disease prevention and preparedness efforts in Canada, including for African swine fever (ASF) and Food and Mouth Disease (FMD). Animal Health Canada brings together the agriculture industry, and federal, provincial, and territorial partners…
Every day, thousands of cattle travel by trailer. Most of these animals are fit for the journey and experience no negative outcomes. However, there are instances where we must ask, “is this animal fit to load and be transported?” Updates to the Health of Animals Regulations Part XII, Humane Transport took effect in 2020. Now,…
The Canadian beef industry breathed a collective sigh of relief to learn a foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine bank is on the horizon. As part of the 2023 Federal Budget, $57.5 million over five years was designated to create the FMD vaccine bank within the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and to develop an emergency response plan….
This is the second in a series of articles highlighting a selection of ABP-supported research projects that were featured at our Research Showcase in February 2023. Find the first article here. In 2017, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) announced new livestock transport regulations were coming, prompting criticism that became a common refrain: the new…
After twenty years of trade restrictions, the last barrier to Canadian beef exports to Japan has been removed. The federal government announced Monday the opening of processed beef into Japan, removing the country’s last BSE-era restriction against Canadian beef and fully restoring Canada’s access into this market. “Cattle producers are grateful for the removal of…
A new pilot project is underway to better facilitate interprovincial food trade in the city of Lloydminster. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is working with the Alberta and Saskatchewan governments to eliminate difficulties relating to moving food from both provinces into and within Lloydminster. “We are excited to see this pilot, not only as…