Canada issues new
measures to accelerate BSE testing progress.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has announced its
sample collection strategy to increase the number of cattle tested for
bovine spongiform encephalopathy. The strategy includes communications to
cattle producers and a financial reimbursement
initiative.
Canada's
national BSE surveillance programme targets animals most likely to be
affected by BSE -- cattle aged 30 months or older that are dead, dying,
diseased, or down and cattle of any age exhibiting neurological symptoms.
Recognizing that producers are best placed to spot these animals, the Agency
is launching an education campaign to encourage producers to report
high-risk cattle.
"A robust
surveillance program, with full producer participation, is a critical part
of our efforts to maintain and expand international markets," Agriculture
and Agri-Food Minister Andy Mitchell explained. "It is very important that
we test enough animals to assure domestic and international markets that our
beef herd is rigorously surveyed. We need to show the world that we are
taking responsible actions to detect BSE."
The Agency is
also dedicating C$4.1 million between now and December 2005 to a financial
reimbursement initiative to accelerate the flow of animals into the
surveillance program. Additional resources may be allocated as required
beyond 2005. The initiative is intended to offset producers' costs related
to veterinary examination and carcass disposal when these activities result
in the collection of an eligible brain sample, which is required for
testing. Deadstock collectors, renderers, and veterinarians across Canada
that are entering into agreements with the Agency are also eligible for
reimbursement of additional costs related to the sampling, tracing, and
holding of carcasses being tested.
"Alberta fully
supports the surveillance program, and we are committed to vigorously
pursuing our testing targets," Alberta's Deputy Premier and Minister of
Agriculture, Food and Rural Development Shirley McClellan declared. "These
measures will give us the momentum needed to intensify our surveillance
efforts."
Discussions
with other provinces are ongoing to establish reimbursement values that
reflect the cost and options for carcass disposal and the availability of
existing provincial programs to encourage sample collection. This year,
Canada plans to test 8,000 cattle for the disease. In following years,
testing levels will increase to at least 30,000 cattle
annually.
Paul Rodgers Deputy Director of Policy American Sheep Industry
Association phone: (304) 647-9981 fax: (304) 647-4778 e-mail:
prodgers2@earthlink.net
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