Safety Measures for BSE Are Key to Public and International Confidence (January 24, 2005)

by the Honourable Andy Mitchell, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food


Canada’s measures to protect human and animal health are extremely comprehensive and are backed by a strong regulatory process. Canadians can rest assured that the actions we are pursuing are internationally recognized as the most effective means to protect consumers and maintain the safety of our beef products. Our current regulatory regime and the additional actions we are undertaking are based on the most advanced scientific evidence available.


We must proceed with the utmost diligence and resolve to maintain the well-earned confidence in Canadian food products that comes with the aggressive application of rigorous safety measures. The total of three BSE cases detected in Canada are a clear indication that our safety measures of the last several years are in fact effectively restricting the spread of disease to a low level of incidence in our national herd.


The aggressive measures in place are successfully mitigating the spread of BSE. They include import restrictions for cattle from high risk countries, the ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban, removal of specified risk material (SRM) from the food supply, a specific tracking and tracing identification system for cattle and an enhanced BSE surveillance program.


The cattle that were imported to Canada from high risk countries prior to BSE trade restrictions in 1990 were traced, slaughtered and tested negative in 1994. The BSE surveillance program began in 1992 and since 2003 has been enhanced, with over 23,000 cattle tested in 2004 and an annual target of 30,000 for 2005. The Canadian Cattle Identification Program became fully implemented in 2001 and significantly strengthens our ability to track animals and trace the spread of disease.


The feed ban was introduced in 1997 and with practical application over time has served to limit the spread of any undetected source of contamination. We have continued confidence in the integrity of our current feed ban.


I have asked the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to undertake a review of our feed controls, involving experts from interested third countries, to clearly demonstrate to Canadians and the world the strength of the ban and the job it is intended to do. I have asked that this audit be completed prior to the implementation of the United States Department of Agriculture rule lifting cattle and beef restrictions on March 7th. In the interests of transparency with our trading partners, I have welcomed other countries to Canada to observe any or all of the CFIA investigation.


The removal of SRM from the food supply is internationally acknowledged as the most effective measure to protect public health against BSE. The SRM is tissue that, in infected cattle, contains the BSE agent. This tissue is removed from all cattle before entering the human food chain – protecting human health. It is also removed from all cattle feed.


We are taking additional steps to strengthen our feed ban by moving to regulate the removal of SRM from all animal feed, in order to avoid any possibility of cross contamination. The Government of Canada will continue to work closely with provinces, territories and industry to move this proposed regulation forward as quickly as possible.


I will continue to build upon the strong collaboration with industry and provinces. I have engaged members of the Beef Value Roundtable and will continue to consult with my federal, provincial and territorial colleagues. I want to make it very clear that Canada stands by affected industry sectors and the Repositioning the Industry strategy I announced on September 10th. This strategy involves actions to regain market access, expand foreign markets, enhance slaughter capacity, reinforce the already strong tracking and tracing system, manage older animals and provide support for all ruminant sectors.


I launched an international outreach program to convey to our trading partners the continued effectiveness of the measures Canada has in place to mitigate the risk of BSE. Federal officials and I are travelling to visit trading partners and convey these messages personally.


Canadians can take pride in their livestock industry, and the incredible lengths they have gone to demonstrate to the world our beef is among the best in the world.