Question Period Note: FOOT AND MOUTH DISEASE (FMD)

Q1 – What is the Government of Canada policy on vaccination for foot and mouth disease? Q2 – How is Canada working to secure sufficient doses of vaccines to protect Canada’s livestock industry and advance its foot and mouth disease preparedness plan? Q3 – How is the Government of Canada working with provinces, territories and Canada’s livestock industry to advance foot and mouth disease preparedness?

R.1 - The Government will only use foot and mouth disease vaccination, together with eradication efforts, during an outbreak to limit disease spread.

The evidence shows that using vaccination in large outbreaks, combined with a stamping-out strategy (depopulation, disposal, cleaning and disinfection of infected premises) significantly reduces the outbreak size and duration compared to a stamping-out strategy alone.

If the Canadian Food Inspection Agency deems emergency vaccination appropriate, the vaccine will only be administered in areas where the disease outbreak is occurring. R.2 - A request for proposal was posted on January 30, 2025, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is targeting a contract award for spring 2025. The successful bidder(s) would provide concentrated foot and mouth vaccines that could be transformed into finished vaccines in the event of a disease outbreak.

This investment complements Canada’s existing access to a limited number of foot and mouth disease vaccines through the North American Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank.

Together, these initiatives will provide Canada with access to foot and mouth disease vaccines, should an outbreak occur, to help reduce the spread of the disease leading to fewer cases and shorter duration. R.3 - Foot and mouth disease preparedness and response is a shared responsibility in Canada. Federal, provincial and territorial governments meet regularly to discuss the establishment of the vaccine bank. Additionally, through the coordination of Animal Health Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is also working with industry and provincial and territorial governments to further develop and enhance integrated response plans.
 

Foot and mouth disease (FMD) is a severe, highly contagious viral disease of cattle and swine. It also affects sheep, goats, deer and other cloven-hoofed ruminants but not horses. Many affected animals recover, but the disease leaves them weakened and debilitated.

FMD is not readily transmissible to humans and is not a public health risk. Under certain laboratory conditions of very high virus exposure, transmission to humans has occurred and resulted in no more than mild blisters. It is not considered a food safety issue.

Canada has been free from FMD since 1952, and strict measures, such as importation controls, are in place to prevent the disease from entering Canada. New import measures have been put in place in response to the 2025 outbreaks in Germany, Hungary, and Slovakia.

Canadian livestock producers play a key role in protecting animal health. Strict biosecurity practices should always be followed to minimize the introduction and spread of any infectious animal disease, including FMD. Anytime an individual suspects the presence of a reportable disease in their animals, they are required to immediately contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and/or a private veterinarian.
According to a 2002 study, the economic impact of an FMD outbreak in Canada are estimated to be between $22.6B and $75.8B (in 2025-dollar value) depending on the mode of introduction and extent of spread. Budget 2023 announced $57.5M over 5 years (2023-24 to 2027-28) and $5.6M ongoing to establish a FMD vaccine bank for Canada and further develop FMD response plans.
This investment was in addition to Canada’s current access to a limited number of doses of vaccine from the North American Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine (NAFMDV) bank.

If FMD was found in Canada

If FMD was found in Canada, the export of live animals, meat, dairy and meat products manufactured from susceptible species (mostly beef and pork) would be halted.

Canada has plans in place to rapidly and effectively control and eradicate FMD. The current policy is:
• Identify all exposed premises,
• Apply a stamping-out policy (that is, to depopulate and dispose of infected and exposed animals), and
• Cleaning and disinfecting infected premises.

The scope and details of the response and timelines will depend upon several factors including the duration and extent of spread before it is detected, the density of livestock in the affected area(s), and the effectiveness of biosecurity measures on the farms.

International trade implications

FMD is an official status disease under the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Terrestrial Code. Canada is considered free of FMD where vaccination is not practiced. The finding of one case in the country would lead to trading partners considering all of Canada to be infected with FMD.

In the event of an outbreak, and to resume trade, Canada would need to demonstrate to the WOAH and to trading partners that appropriate measures are in place to contain and eliminate the disease. The CFIA would work together with partners in provinces and territories, Global Affairs Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and national industry associations to re-establish trade as quickly as possible.

• The Government is committed to protecting animal health and preventing the introduction and spread of animal diseases.

• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency monitors the status of foot-and-mouth disease worldwide and is ready to respond.

• The Government is working to establish a Canadian foot and mouth disease vaccine bank.

• Strict measures, including import controls, are in place to prevent foot-and-mouth disease from entering Canada.