Safeguards
The Government of Canada has safeguards to stop the spread of BSE to animals and the human food chain. Experts agree that there is no risk of a BSE epidemic in Canada or the U.S.A. like the one that happened in the U.K.
Our safeguards include:
- Protecting public health by removing specified risk material (SRM)
- Controls on importing cattle, beef and beef products to stop exposure to BSE
- Surveillance of cattle for BSE to determine the prevalence of BSE in Canadian cattle
- Feed ban to stop the spread of BSE
- Cattle identification program
For details on Canada's safeguards against BSE visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Protection of public health through removal of SRM
The Government of Canada has changed the Food and Drug Regulations and the Health of Animals Regulations to prevent specified risk material (SRM) from human food. This is the most important step taken to protect human health. For more information visit Health Canada.
Import controls to restrict offshore exposure to BSE
In 1990, because of the large increase of BSE in the United Kingdom, Canada restricted importing cattle from the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. Over the following years, Canada expanded the regions from which animals, certain feeds and ruminant products were restricted. Although a low level of BSE had already entered North America prior to 1990, the measures taken since that time stopped the entry of further BSE into Canada.
Surveillance to determine the prevalence of BSE in Canadian cattle
Since 1990 BSE has been a reportable disease by law. In 1992 a National BSE Surveillance Program was put into place to keep a close watch on Canadian cattle for signs of BSE. This testing program looks at those animals that are most at risk for the disease on farms, rendering plants and abattoirs. Visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website for the definition of "higher-risk animals".
Through Canada's federal meat inspection system, all animals are examined by trained meat inspectors to make sure they are safe to enter the food chain. Surveillance is not a food safety measure because it monitors the cattle population. However Canada's meat inspection system ensures our beef is safe to eat and the removal of SRM during meat processing protects consumers from BSE.
In 2004, Canada tested 23,550 higher risk animals as part of this program. Canada went above the testing target set for 2005. There were 57,786 samples collected and tested and all were negative for BSE. Visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for details.
Some European countries, as well as Japan, have set up extreme testing programs. Unlike Canada, these countries did not put preventive measures in place before having a case of BSE and they were slow in creating a BSE surveillance program.
Experts agree that testing all cattle is not the best way to protect the public from BSE. Canada's meat inspection system ensures beef is safe to eat, and the removal of SRM is recognized as the best way to protect consumers from BSE. For more information on BSE surveillance, visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Feed ban to stop the spread of BSE
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) introduced a feed ban in 1997 to stop the spread of BSE in cattle. The ban prohibits feeding meat and bone meal made from ruminant animals (cattle, sheep, goats, deer, etc.) to other ruminants. For more information on the feed ban, visit CFIA.
On June 26, 2006, the CFIA announced changes to strengthen the existing feed ban. The enhanced feed ban entered into force on July 12, 2007. The legislation requires the removal of specified risk materials (SRM) from all animal feeds, pet foods, and fertilizers. These tissues are already removed from all animals processed for human consumption. For more information on the new regulations refer to CFIA's news release.
The CFIA inspects feed mills and rendering plants on a regular basis. If problems are found, the CFIA notifies the facility in writing and does follow up investigations to make sure that the mill or plant has made the right changes. Although feed inspection activities focus on rendering plants and feed mills, a random selection of farms are inspected each year. The federal Feeds Act gives the CFIA their authority to determine that livestock feeds are safe, effective and appropriately labelled.
Cattle identification program helps trace animals
The Canadian Cattle Identification Program was introduced in 2001 by the cattle industry to speed up the tracing, containment and elimination of any serious disease of cattle, if it happens. Animals must be tagged when they leave their herd of origin. Each tag has an individual ID number that is unique to the animal. This tracing system is enforced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. For more information, visit the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency.
