March 17, 2021

Canada and the United States agree to bilateral trade protocol if ASF detected

Canada and the United States signed a protocol to guide bilateral trade if African swine fever (ASF) was detected among wild boars, using a science-based approach to minimise trade impact while protecting swine populations in both countries.

Dr. Jaspinder Komal, Canada's Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) and Dr. Burke Healey, the United States' CVO, issued a statement announcing that the agreement was made by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS).

Under this protocol, all trade of live swine, swine germplasm, and untreated swine products will be halted between both countries should ASF be detected among wild swine, but trade in products to make the ASF virus ineffective will continue.

The protocol describes three phases which would progressively decrease limitations on trade for these products. Both the CFIA and USDA-APHIS will work with industry and other stakeholders to ensure both countries can fully implement the protocol with processes and procedures in place.

Both countries will also continuously modify export certificates to permit trade of live swine, swine semen, pet food and animal by-products and meat from approved disease-free zones should ASF be detected among domestic swine.

A zoning arrangement has been agreed between both countries to manage diseases and facilitate trade. Once ASF has been detected, geographic boundaries are defined to contain the outbreak, which are control zones in accordance to guidelines by the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Areas outside control zones are considered disease-free zones.

- Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)