Canada continues to build its case that it should be classified as a minimum-risk country for bovine spongiform encephalopathy, even with the possibility of a second case originating in Alberta.
A dairy cow from Washington state confirmed with BSE may have been imported from the Leduc area near Edmonton. Canada argues it remains a minimal-risk country because of its surveillance programs, feed ban and traceback ability.
The world animal health organization, the OIE, has provided guidelines in dealing with diseases like BSE, but individual countries make the final decisions.
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“The fact is the OIE does not designate,” said Rob McNabb of the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. “They simply provide the guidelines. From time to time they may provide an unofficial nod towards the status of a country,” he said.
The OIE has five categories of BSE risk ranging from free to provisionally free, minimal, moderate or high.
A minimal BSE risk is granted when there are no indigenous cases for seven years, along with a ban on ruminant animal protein being fed to other ruminants for seven years or more.
In 2002, Canada completed a BSE risk assessment that concluded the risk of introducing BSE through the animal feed chain was negligible.
Although it has only been six years since the introduction of a feed ban, Canada started a testing program for BSE in 1992 and OIE surveillance targets have been achieved for each of the last seven years.
As well, meat and bone meal for livestock feed has not been imported from the United Kingdom since 1978.
Canada’s first domestic case of BSE, which was announced May 20, stopped the Canadian beef and live cattle trade. Some markets opened Sept. 10 with the shipment of boneless meat cuts from youthful animals to the United States.
BSE cost the Canadian livestock industry nearly $2 billion. The economic devastation has spurred the Canadian government and industry groups to lobby on the international front for a new set of rules regarding trade when a low number of cases are detected.
