Cervid producers have filed a court challenge against Saskatchewan’s standardized chronic wasting disease surveillance and certification program, saying it limits their ability to do business.
Roger Holland is one of 14 Saskatchewan producers who believe provincial legislation prohibits parts of the mandatory herd surveillance program, including the part that forces producers to sign forms that allow the government to release information about producers and their farms to the public.
The producers say if they refuse to sign the forms, their herd status is reduced to minimum levels under the provincial certification program.
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“You don’t have to sign papers like that in Canada to raise livestock,” Holland said.
“It’s a total abuse of their powers.”
The producers contend that such animal disease surveillance actions are the responsibility of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and that the standardized provincial program should be dismantled.
“They decided to throw it all into one and say ‘you’re going to sign it’,” said Holland.
Scott Brown of Saskatchewan Agriculture would not comment on the pending court challenge expected July 6.
He said the program was launched in 2003 after extensive consultation with producers.
It combines the previous mandatory provincial CWD surveillance program and CFIA’s national certification program.
