June 6, 2006

Canada to relax restrictions on bluetongue disease

THE Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is getting ready to enact a proposal that would ease restrictions on imports of US cattle put in place to prevent the spread of bluetongue into Canada.

Bluetongue is a non-contagious, viral cattle disease. It was present in Australia, the US, Africa and the Middle East.

Major signs are high fever, excessive salivation, and the swelling of the face and tongue. Swelling of the lips and tongue gives the tongue its typical blue appearance, though this sign is confined to a minority of the animals.

CFIA's proposal would make it easier to import US cattle, change bluetongue's reporting status, and end movement controls.

CFIA is proposing that bluetongue restrictions be lifted for all classes of cattle imported into western Canada from any US state.

It also proposed that bluetongue be changed from being a reportable disease to immediately notifiable, meaning movement controls would no longer apply.

Easing restrictions would also mean that movement controls within Canada would no longer apply, even if bluetongue activity is detected, CFIA said.

Critics of the existing rule said that the risk of spreading bluetongue into Canada is minimal and only served to add transaction costs that erode competitiveness.

CFIA also claimed that the restrictions also impacted bilateral relations, a critical issue in Canada, as the USDA may hold the issue with regards to mad cow disease.

CFIA said there is as yet no deadline for making the proposed changes.