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BSE
Update - January 11, 2005
Related
links:
Statement
From the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association
(January 11, 2005) The Canadian Cattlemen’s
Association (CCA) says today’s announcement of an additional diagnosis
of BSE in an Alberta cow falls within expected parameters and does not
change Canada’s status as a minimal risk country. At current levels,
surveillance being carried out is well above the level recommended by the
World Animal Health Organization (OIE) and the two diagnoses within the
past two weeks indicate that the surveillance program is successfully
finding any BSE cases that may exist. The level of BSE in the Canadian
herd is low and continues to decline as a result of the
ruminant-to-ruminant feed ban introduced in 1997.
It’s important to note that while the feed ban began in August,
1997, there was no recall issued at that time on feed ingredients already
in the system. The March, 1998 birth date of the BSE case announced today
is likely the result of exposure to pre-feed ban feed that was still
residual in the system and does not indicate a lack of feed ban compliance
at this stage of the investigation. We have confidence in our regulators
to ensure the effectiveness of the ban. The low incidence of BSE in
Canada
, as shown by the surveillance program, is evidence that the ban is
working. The CCA fully supports a review and validation of the
implementation of
Canada
’s feed ban.
The rule to allow importation of feeder and
slaughter cattle under 30 months of age and an expanded list of beef
products into the
U.S.
was written by the United States Department of Agriculture to take into
account that a few additional cases of BSE would likely be found in
Canada
. Today’s announcement should not impact the re-opening of the border to
those products on March 7.
For media in the
Calgary
area, a media scrum will be held at the offices of the
Alberta
Beef Producers,
310 – 6715 8th Street NE
,
Calgary
AB
at 2:00PM local time.
NEW CASE OF BSE DETECTED -
CFIA statement
OTTAWA , January 11, 2005 - The
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) today announced that
Canada
’s national surveillance program has detected bovine spongiform
encephalopathy (BSE) in an
Alberta
beef cow just under seven years of age. As part of its surveillance
program, the CFIA has control of the carcass. No part of the animal has
entered the human food or animal feed systems.
Public
health remains protected through the removal of specified risk material
(SRM) from all animals slaughtered for human food. SRM are tissues that,
in infected animals, contain the BSE agent. This measure is
internationally recognized as the most effective public health measure
against BSE.
The
CFIA is investigating what the animal may have been fed early in its life
and the source of the feed. The infected animal was born in March 1998,
and the farm of origin has been confirmed. Based on preliminary
information, feed produced prior to the introduction of the 1997 feed ban
in
Canada
remains the most likely source of infection in this animal.
The
infected animal was detected through the recently enhanced national
surveillance program. Additional cases may be found as testing of
high-risk cattle continues. In 2004, the Government of Canada tested over
22,000 animals.
Canada ’s science-based BSE
safeguards to protect public and animal health have been designed with the
understanding that BSE is potentially present in a small and declining
number of animals. This includes animals born before and shortly after the
1997 feed ban. The Government of Canada continues to believe that the
ruminant to ruminant feed ban introduced in 1997 has limited the spread of
BSE and remains effective
Initial
testing on the animal was conducted by
Alberta
authorities. Results were inconclusive and samples were then sent to the
Canadian Science Centre for Human and Animal Health in
Winnipeg
. The definitive diagnosis was made today using the internationally
recognized “gold standard” test for BSE.
Since
the surveillance program was enhanced in January 2004,
Canada
has tested more than 24,000 high-risk cattle. This targeted approach has
detected an additional two BSE positive cattle. These findings demonstrate
the shared commitment of cattle producers, industry and governments to
responsibly search for any remaining cases of BSE.
This
current investigation is independent of the BSE investigation on the case
which was confirmed on January 2, 2005.
The
CFIA will hold a news conference today, January 11, 2005, at 2:00 EST. A
media advisory has been issued.
-30-
BSE CONFIRMED IN SUSPECT ANIMAL, INVESTIGATIONS UNDERWAY
OTTAWA, January 2, 2005 - The Canadian Food Inspection
Agency (CFIA)
today confirmed that an older dairy cow from Alberta has tested positive
for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE).
The infected animal was born in 1996, prior to the introduction of the
1997 feed ban. It is suspected that the animal became infected by
contaminated feed before the feed ban.
No part of the animal entered the human food or animal
feed systems. This finding does not indicate an increased risk to food
safety.Canada's public health safeguards have been developed on the
assumption that a low, declining level of BSE
remains in North America. Canada requires the removal of specified risk
material (SRM) from all
animals entering the human food supply. SRM
are tissues that, in infected cattle, contain the BSE
agent. This measure is internationally recognized as the most effective
means to protect public health from BSE.
Confirming BSE
in this animal is not unexpected. Canada has in place a suite of risk
mitigation measures to protect public and animal health, including the
removal of SRM from the
human food chain, the ruminant to ruminant feed ban, the national
surveillance program and import restrictions. As a result, the United
States continues to consider Canada as a minimal risk region. As stated in
the
United
States Department of Agriculture press release of December 30th,
2004, the United States would not alter the implementation of its rule
to resume trade with Canada.
The infected animal was detected through the recently
enhanced national surveillance program. Additional cases may be found as
testing of high-risk cattle continues. In 2004, the Government of Canada
tested over 22,000 animals.
The CFIA is continuing its investigation and has
determined the infected animal's farm of origin. Efforts are now underway
to identify any other animals of similar risk. Specifically, the Agency is
focusing on two categories of animals: recently born offspring of the
infected animal and cattle born on the same farm within a year of the
infected animal. This work is proceeding as quickly as possible.
The Agency has also launched a feed investigation to
examine what the infected animal was fed early in its life, when infection
was most likely to have occurred prior to the 1997 feed ban. Given the age
of the animal, it may not be possible to definitively identify a
particular feed source as the origin of infection. However, information
gathered through investigations and analyses continues to suggest that the
feed ban has limited the spread of BSE
since its implementation.
In 1989, Canada banned further importation of cattle
from the United Kingdom and traced all imported cattle to their Canadian
farms of origin, where they were monitored and eventually destroyed.
Before this time, when BSE
had not emerged as a significant animal health threat, it is likely that
some imported animals entered the North American feed system.
The CFIA
will hold a technical briefing on January 3, 2005 at 11:00 EST.
A media advisory will be issued with additional information.
-30-
For information:
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Media Relations
(613) 228-6682
December
30 - OTTAWA,
December 30, 2004
(Agriculture and AgriFood Canada Press Release) Preliminary BSE testing
results completed late on December 29, 2004 have identified a suspect
10-year-old dairy cow. Although the finding is not definitive, multiple
screening tests have yielded positive results.
No part of
the animal entered the human food or animal feed systems. Samples are
currently being analyzed at the Canadian Science Centre for Human and
Animal Health in Winnipeg. Confirmatory results are expected in three to
five days.
The
Government of Canada’s normal policy is to report only confirmed
results. However, given the unique situation created by the United
States’ border announcement on December 29 it was decided that the most
prudent action would be to publicly announce the available information and
provide stakeholders with a full understanding of the current situation.
Since
confirming BSE in Canada in 2003, CFIA officials have stated that finding
more cases in North America was possible. Canada’s
public health measures have been built on this assumption. As a result,
the
confirmation of a new case of BSE would not indicate increased risk to
food safety as Canada requires the removal of specified risk material
(SRM) from all animals entering the human food supply. SRM are tissues
that, in infected cattle, contain the BSE agent. This measure is
internationally recognized as the most effective means of protecting
public health from BSE.
The
suspect animal was detected through the national surveillance program,
implemented in co-operation with the provinces and the animal health
community. Testing was conducted after the animal was identified as
a downer, one of the high-risk categories targeted by the surveillance
program. To date, more than 21,000 animals have been tested this year.
Similar
to the two North American BSE-infected animals detected in 2003, this
animal was born before the Canadian and American feed bans were introduced
in 1997. If BSE is confirmed in this case, consumption of contaminated
feed before 1997 remains the most likely route of transmission. Evidence
collected through investigations and risk analyses continues to indicate
that the feed ban has successfully limited BSE spread since being
implemented.
U.S.
officials have been informed of the suspect case of BSE. This finding
should not have a significant or lasting impact on efforts to normalize
trade. In negotiations with trading partners, including the U.S., Canada
has been very open about the prospect of finding more BSE.
The CFIA will
hold a technical briefing on December 30, 2004 at 11:00 EST. A media
advisory will be issued prior to the briefing with additional information.
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