June 30, 2022 – Minor changes to the import policy for small ruminants from USA

For a limited period of time, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has modified and reinstated Option 2c as part of the import policy “Requirements for Small Ruminants Imported From the United States for Breeding, Domestic or Captive Purposes-TAHD-DSAT-IE-2007-5-6″.

The modified option 2C will be available until December 31st 2022 for importers that meet the criteria specified in the import policy.

“Male small ruminants may be imported from any premises in the United States provided that the following criteria are met:

• The import permit application must be submitted to CFIA before December 31^st, 2022. The validity period of the import permit it no more than 3 months. Therefore, male small ruminants would have to be imported into Canada no later than March 31^st, 2023.
•  The importing premises in Canada must have been enrolled in the Scrapie Flock Certification Program (SFCP) for a minimum of 1 year and completed at least 1 annual inventory no later than December 31^st, 2022

or

For premises that do not contain any small ruminants, the premises must have been enrolled in the SFCP no later than December 31^st, 2021.

 The proof of enrollment in the SFCP as described above must be submitted at the time of the import permit application.

• The premises must continue to be enrolled in the SFCP as long as the imported males small ruminants are alive.

• The imported males must:

• • not be scrapie positive, scrapie suspect or scrapie exposed animals;
  • not be displaying any clinical signs of scrapie at the time of certification for export to Canada

• In Canada, the imported males must:

• • be maintained separate from the female animals except during breeding season
  • be maintained separate from lambs or kids at all times; and
  • not be maintained in confined lambing/kidding facilities

This requirement for separation must be confirmed by the local CFIA district office prior to the issuance of the import permit.

• The imported males can never leave the importing premises, unless for either hand-breeding or semen collection, as per the National Standards for the SFCP, and with a written CFIA authorization.

• At the time of their death, the CFIA must be notified and the imported males must be sampled and proof of testing for scrapie must be provided. The testing must be performed by a CFIA-approved TSE network laboratory or by the CFIA laboratory directly.

Flocks and/or herds that have imported males that do not follow through with their obligations will be identified to the CFIA, and additional measures and/or enforcement actions, as determined by the CFIA based on the specifics of the animals in question (and which may include an order for destruction), will be applied.

For option 2 c) only:

Subsequent to presentation for inspection at the first port of entry, the animals described on this permit must proceed directly, and under license, from the port of entry to the premises, previously approved by an inspector designated under the Health of Animals Act and indicated on this permit.”

If you have any questions, please contact your local animal health district office.