July 18, 2005

Tighter BSE rules for Canada
 

Canada will be tightening two sets of rules to prevent further new BSE cases, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) said.

Monetary penalties will be imposed on companies that use banned feed ingredients or fail to remove risk materials from their feed.

Before this ruling, inspectors could only issue warnings, prosecute suspected offenders, cancel permits or seize suspected products.

Issuing such fines will allow the CFIA to respond to violations in a more timely and effective manner, said the country's Minister of Agriculture, Andy Mitchell. Farmers who fail to report possible BSE cases will also be penalised.

CFIA has also changed the national cattle identification program by increasing its control of tags to improve cattle traceability in the event of another BSE case.

Other revisions on the cattle traceback program also include tightening controls on the distribution of tags to cattle producers and requiring producers to report tag numbers from dead animals.

All cattle must now be tagged before leaving farms for public places such as community pastures, veterinary clinics, and fairs.