Question Period Note: BOVINE SPONGIFORM ENCEPHALOPATHY

Q1 – Why are there differences between Canada and the United States in the measures to mitigate bovine spongiform encephalopathy risk? Q2 – How does the detection of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy in Canada affect the risk status designation? Q3 – How does Canada’s negligible risk status for bovine spongiform encephalopathy affect trade? Q4 – How will recent funding announced in Budget 2024 support the Government in addressing the impact of BSE?

R.1 - Both Canada and the United States are currently recognised by the World Organisation for Animal Health with a negligible bovine spongiform encephalopathy risk status.
Both countries have identified different risks. Canada had bovine spongiform encephalopathy circulating in animal feed indicated by the detection of a number of cases of classical bovine spongiform, while the United States did not. Canada has controls in the feed chain, which differ from the US controls, related to specified risk material in Canada to address risks related to these previous cases.
Certain trading partners still deal with Canadian exports differently than those from the United States and this requires different measures in place to mitigate risks.
We continue to consult with industry and our partners in the United States to find ways to align our approach where possible. R.2 - The World Organisation for Animal Health standards show that neither the bovine spongiform encephalopathy risk status nor trade should be affected because of the detection and reporting of cases of atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy. Trading partners, however, may not follow these guidelines.
Some trade has resumed with South Korea and the Philippines. Trade with China remains disrupted.
The Government of Canada is working with international trading partners to maintain and restore, as well as increase market access for Canadian cattle, beef products and by-products. R.3 - Having a negligible bovine spongiform encephalopathy risk status makes meeting trade requirements easier. Canada has been working towards expanding market access globally.
In August 2021, Singapore approved first-time access for Canadian beef from cattle over thirty months of age. Brazil, Bahamas and Qatar granted full beef access in 2022. Japan opened the market for processed beef products in March 2023. Mexico recently opened its market to Canadian bovine meat and bone meal. Taiwan also issued an administrative notice to lift a ban on the import of Canadian beef over thirty months of age.
This access will help to expand and diversify Canadian beef exports, while contributing to global food security, benefiting global consumers with access to high-quality beef products. R.4 - Budget 2024 announced $49 million over two years (2024 - 2026) for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada for continued surveillance and inspection activities that monitor and manage risks related to Bovine spongiform encephalopathy and other animal and human transmissible spongiform encephalopathies.
This investment also supports the redesign of Canada’s Bovine spongiform encephalopathy program to align it with the World Organisation for Animal Health’s international standards.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), commonly known as mad cow disease, is a progressive, fatal disease of the nervous system of cattle that is associated with the presence of an abnormal form of a prion protein. In infected cattle, prions concentrate in certain tissues known in Canada as specified risk material. In Canada, BSE continues to pose an extremely low risk to human health.
There are two distinct types of BSE: the classical BSE strain, which occurs through an animal’s consumption of feed contaminated with prions; and the atypical strain, which occur sporadically in all cattle populations at a very low rate and which have only been identified in old cattle.
The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) upgraded Canada’s risk status from “controlled” to “negligible” in May 2021.

Atypical bovine spongiform encephalopathy case
On December 17, 2021, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) notified WOAH of a case of atypical BSE on a beef cow on a farm in Alberta.
The detection and reporting of an atypical BSE case has not affected the WOAH negligible risk status of Canada.
Following detection of this atypical BSE case, Canada engaged key trading partners to provide information and maintain confidence in Canada’s BSE safeguards.
According to WOAH standards, the occurrence of atypical BSE cases would not affect Canada’s status as long as the case is disposed of in a way that mitigates the risk for humans and other animals.
However, South Korea and the Philippines temporarily suspended beef imports. China requested that Canada stop issuing export certificates for beef and beef products. This measure remains in place. South Korea imposed measures on beef exported from the USA that is derived from Canadian cattle. Other trading partners are imposing restrictions on meat, based on animals that were born and raised in Canada. This has led to the USA imposing restrictions on some slaughter plants being able to accept Canadian cattle, despite both countries being of negligible risk for BSE.

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy specified risk material
Each country holding a BSE risk status must identify and report to WOAH its own unique risk factors for BSE entry and spread and measures to mitigate these risks. Canada achieved negligible status from WOAH based on the existing risk mitigation program. In order to keep negligible risk status, Canada must publicly demonstrate that effective controls are in place to address the risks of BSE entry and spread within the Canadian livestock feed chain.
Any changes to Canada’s BSE control programs would only be considered after careful analysis of risks to human or animal health and verification that the proposed change would not jeopardize Canada’s negligible risk BSE status or international markets. Sensitivity of trading partners around BSE controls is high. The CFIA is currently engaging with the cattle and beef sectors on this analysis.
In 2021, the Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) hired a risk consulting company (Risk Sciences International) to complete a definition of the problem to be assessed. Since then, the CCA has been awarded Federal Assistance Program funding from the CFIA and CCA has hired Risk Sciences International to conduct a risk assessment. This work will help identify the industry’s perspective of consequences that may arise through a proposed review of Canada's list of specified risk material prohibited from animal feed for the purpose of potentially harmonizing it with the list of cattle material prohibited in animal feed in the United States. The CFIA is supporting this work financially, providing technical expertise and is engaging with the beef and cattle sectors to move this important work forward. The outcome of this assessment will enable the CFIA to identify what changes, if any, may be considered to BSE regulatory controls in Canada. Such proposed changes will have to be assessed by CFIA to evaluate whether they pose a risk to human and animal health. This evaluation will also assist the Agency in considering market access impacts and Canada’s obligations to align import conditions with domestic program requirements.
The CFIA has received the final draft risk assessment report and is reviewing it. An international peer-review of the risk assessment will begin in May 2024.
The CFIA will be collaborating with the CCA to host an information session about the Risk Assessment for key stakeholders later in summer 2024.

• Protecting food safety, animal health and the health of our cattle sector from the impact of bovine spongiform encephalopathy is a priority for the Government of Canada.
• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is examining the list of specified risk material tissues, which are banned from being fed to animals in Canada.
• Once completed, the Agency will assess whether any changes can be made to further promote food safety, animal and human health.
• The Government is committed to restoring, maintaining and increasing market access for Canadian cattle, beef products and by-products.