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Canada has taken precautions to prevent the introduction and spread of BSE :
The creation of a surveillance program:the brains of cattle are tested for the disease.
Since 1997, Canada has banned the feeding of rendered protein products from ruminant animals (cattle, sheep, goats, bison, elk or deer) to other ruminants.
The creation of a Canadian Cattle Identification Program for cattle and bison, making it possible to trace individual animal movements from the herd of origin to slaughter.
Controlling the importation of products that are assessed to have a high risk of introducing BSE into Canada. Canada only allows the importation of live ruminants and their meat and meat products from countries that Canada considers to be free of BSE. Canada also has additional import controls for animal products and by-products from countries that have confirmed BSE in native animals. Their animal products are assessed on a case-by-case basis and may be permitted entry if they are judged not to present a risk of introducing BSE. Canada has not imported ruminant-derived meat and bone meal for the purpose of livestock feeding from Europe for more than a decade. In December 2000, the CFIA suspended the importation of rendered animal material of any species from any country that Canada did not recognize as free of BSE. |
World Health Organization |
Canadian Import PoliciesEither a) For the preceding seven (7) years, the country of origin must have reported no reported clinical cases of BSE in indigenous bovines, AND b) no cases of BSE have been attributed to the country of origin from another country through epidemiological investigation, OR c) all cases of BSE have been clearly demonstrated to originate directly from the importation of live cattle from a BSE affected country and no cases of BSE have been attributed to the country of origin from another country through epidemiological investigation. |