Sheep and goats older than 12 months will soon be allowed into Canada from the United States after a three-year border closing.
The reopening of the border, which was closed as a safety measure after the discovery of BSE, is good news for Canadian sheep producers who will now have access to American sheep genetics, said Jennifer Fleming, executive director of the Canadian Sheep Federation.
“It’s quite important to allow breeders to get access to genetics,” Fleming said.
The value of lost sheep sales was estimated to be $1.25 million in 2004 and $1.75 million in 2005.
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Just as important is the message sent to other countries, including the United States, that Canada’s border regulations are based on science, not politics, she added.
The changes won’t allow Canadians to ship their older sheep and goats south to the U.S. That will have to wait until after the American government finishes its Rule 2, the minimal risk rule that will allow the U.S. to import cattle and bison older than 30 months.
Once Rule 2 is in place, American officials are expected to focus their attention on other ruminant animals, including sheep and goats.
“We are hoping our positive move forward to get trade resumed will spur the process on,” Fleming said. “It’s a bit frustrating we weren’t included in Rule 2.”
Debbie Barr, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s national manager for imports and exports, said the new import rules were made after changes to the country’s regulations and disease requirements.
Before the border closed, breeding sheep exported to Canada needed to be free of tuberculosis, brucellosis and bluetongue.
Now animals coming into Canada need a permit ensuring the animals are free of scrapie and communicable diseases in general. Bluetongue permits are no longer a requirement. The animals must meet other requirements, including the ability to be traced to the herd of origin. Barr said this would likely be easier for sheep producers than goat producers.
The use of permits makes it easier for future changes to import rules without having to go through the extensive process of rewriting legislation, she added.
Barr expects the regulatory amendment will be published in the Canada Gazette Feb. 21 and hope to have permits will likely be available two to four weeks later.
