frenchie
Well-known member
United States comfortable with Canadian feed system
this document web posted: Wednesday, February 9, 2005 20050210p3
By Barbara Duckworth
Calgary bureau
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - American animal health officials say it wouldn't be a big deal if Canada was to find more positive BSE cases in older cattle.
"If Canada had 30 animals it would not concern me, if they were born before the feed ban," John Clifford, deputy administrator for the U.S. animal and plant health inspection service, said during the National Cattlemen's Beef Association convention in San Antonio in early February.
"What would concern me would be if we found an animal born three years ago."
Canada's ban on feeding ruminant protein to cattle and its BSE surveillance program were debated during the NCBA meeting.
Officials from Canada and the United States said Canada is up to speed on all fronts and has done nothing wrong.
For many Americans the next question is why Canada has had four cases while the U.S. has had none. While the U.S. did find a case of BSE in December of 2003, the cow was originally from Canada.
"At some point in the 1997 period there may have been an infected animal that went through the system and was rendered," said Dennis Laycraft, executive vice-president of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association.
The issue was discussed at length by the Canada-U.S. committee dedicated to removing trade barriers between the two countries.
Canada and the U.S. implemented feed bans in 1997 and were among the few to legislate a mammalian feed ban before BSE was discovered on their soil. It is believed feeding infected protein material to cattle causes the fatal BSE infection.
Neither country required feed recalls after the ban because both believed they did not have BSE. The most recent BSE case in Canada was in a cow born in 1998, six months after the ban.
"There was clearly some feed ban material in the system in 1998," Laycraft said.
Canada has undertaken a major audit of its feed system to see if deficiencies exist.
"I do not believe you are going to find major gaps or concerns with their feed ban," Clifford said.
The issue heated up after it was reported that a Canadian Food Inspection Agency test found unknown animal proteins in feed samples. It has since been reported the suspect proteins included insect, rodent and feather parts and a human hair.
The committee was told the CFIA annually inspects feed mills. Most have hazard analysis critical control points systems and ISO approval programs. All commercial mills are licensed and have strict protocol manuals.
The federal government has authority to mandate feed recalls, impose civil penalties and undertake criminal charges.
Canada has 540 commercial feed mills for all species. About 80 percent do not handle meat and bone meal, which is prohibited for cattle.
Inspections often reveal more problems with paperwork and incorrect invoicing than inadvertent mixing of banned materials. Immediate correction is required for major noncompliance and minor infractions must be fixed in 60 days.
For example, it is a violation if mill staff do not stamp all receipts stating the feed mix does not contain ruminant protein destined for ruminant feed.
As well, the CFIA has published a regulation proposing to remove all ruminant specified risk materials from all animal feed, including pet food. Public comment is invited until the end of February
this document web posted: Wednesday, February 9, 2005 20050210p3
By Barbara Duckworth
Calgary bureau
SAN ANTONIO, Texas - American animal health officials say it wouldn't be a big deal if Canada was to find more positive BSE cases in older cattle.
"If Canada had 30 animals it would not concern me, if they were born before the feed ban," John Clifford, deputy administrator for the U.S. animal and plant health inspection service, said during the National Cattlemen's Beef Association convention in San Antonio in early February.
"What would concern me would be if we found an animal born three years ago."
Canada's ban on feeding ruminant protein to cattle and its BSE surveillance program were debated during the NCBA meeting.
Officials from Canada and the United States said Canada is up to speed on all fronts and has done nothing wrong.
For many Americans the next question is why Canada has had four cases while the U.S. has had none. While the U.S. did find a case of BSE in December of 2003, the cow was originally from Canada.
"At some point in the 1997 period there may have been an infected animal that went through the system and was rendered," said Dennis Laycraft, executive vice-president of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association.
The issue was discussed at length by the Canada-U.S. committee dedicated to removing trade barriers between the two countries.
Canada and the U.S. implemented feed bans in 1997 and were among the few to legislate a mammalian feed ban before BSE was discovered on their soil. It is believed feeding infected protein material to cattle causes the fatal BSE infection.
Neither country required feed recalls after the ban because both believed they did not have BSE. The most recent BSE case in Canada was in a cow born in 1998, six months after the ban.
"There was clearly some feed ban material in the system in 1998," Laycraft said.
Canada has undertaken a major audit of its feed system to see if deficiencies exist.
"I do not believe you are going to find major gaps or concerns with their feed ban," Clifford said.
The issue heated up after it was reported that a Canadian Food Inspection Agency test found unknown animal proteins in feed samples. It has since been reported the suspect proteins included insect, rodent and feather parts and a human hair.
The committee was told the CFIA annually inspects feed mills. Most have hazard analysis critical control points systems and ISO approval programs. All commercial mills are licensed and have strict protocol manuals.
The federal government has authority to mandate feed recalls, impose civil penalties and undertake criminal charges.
Canada has 540 commercial feed mills for all species. About 80 percent do not handle meat and bone meal, which is prohibited for cattle.
Inspections often reveal more problems with paperwork and incorrect invoicing than inadvertent mixing of banned materials. Immediate correction is required for major noncompliance and minor infractions must be fixed in 60 days.
For example, it is a violation if mill staff do not stamp all receipts stating the feed mix does not contain ruminant protein destined for ruminant feed.
As well, the CFIA has published a regulation proposing to remove all ruminant specified risk materials from all animal feed, including pet food. Public comment is invited until the end of February
