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A disease outbreak among pigs could negatively affect public health, other economically important livestock sectors and tourism. Foreign consumers and governments want to be certain of the origin of food they import and the conditions under which it was produced. In the event of a disease outbreak or food safety issue in Canada affecting swine, the lucrative export market for pork products could close. If such an outbreak were to occur, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) work to re-open markets would be aided by more immediate access to complete and up-to-date information regarding pig identification, movement and location.
These proposed amendments to the Health of Animals Regulations would allow for a formal agreement with a third-party administrator to establish and maintain a comprehensive database containing up-to-date information as to the identification, movement and location of all Canadian pigs. Pig producers would provide information directly to the administrator, and identify all pigs in their care and control with tags or tattoos. The pig traceability data reported following the proposed amendments would facilitate more rapid and efficient control of a disease outbreak among pigs.
The main objectives of the proposed amendments are (a) to reduce the impacts of a disease outbreak or food safety issue resulting from or affecting the pig sector; (b) to better protect public health and animal health; and (c) to support the Canadian pork industry in order to meet international standards to export.
Monday July 16, 2012/ Canada Gazzette/ Canada.
http://gazette.gc.ca
