It’s the final countdown toward the implementation of a truck washing rule that has alarmed many of the country’s hog producers.
Canadian Pork Council chair Rick Bergmann told the Manitoba Pork Council’s recent annual meeting that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is insisting it will apply wash-in-the-United States rules starting May 1, regardless of disease concerns.
“They’re liable if they don’t,” Bergmann said about the legal risk involved in not enforcing a rule that is technically on the books.
“CFIA is in a conundrum.”
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The Canadian industry objects to washing hog trailers in the U.S. because of what it believes are weaker biosecurity standards and disease transmission at U.S. truck washes.
It has been working on a protocol that would see Canadian trucks washed once they return to Canada rather than visit U.S. truck washes.
The industry argues that this would limit the chance of trucks being infected by re-used water or unclean facilities in the U.S.
Hundreds of Manitoba trucks have not brought back the porcine epidemic diarrhea virus for more than a year.
“We have not seen the spread of PED in our herd as we have seen south of us or east of us,” said Bergmann. “That’s a testament to the diligence and decision-making and biosecurity priority that our industry has here.”
Bergmann said the CFIA rule is in regulations that are decades old and don’t fit the current situation with PED.
“We’re going to have a 30 year regulation enforced for the first time,” said Bergmann.
However, CFIA is still talking to the hog industry, and “I’m really hoping that we have a resolve that makes sense. If it’ll happen, it’ll be at the 11th hour.”
