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A Quick Reminder-Bison Import
Regulations
Optional Import Protocol for Bison from the USA
Reprinted from the Smoke
Signals, August 1999, pages 85-86
Summary:
To import bison from the US
certain procedures must be followed. The Canadian Food Inspection
Agency has set up a protocol that minimizes the risk of importing
diseased bison. This article summarizes the requirements for
importing bison from The United States into Canada.
Main features include:
the use of Canadian Bison
Association Tags post-entry quarantine at a
pre-approved premise enhanced US Inspection and sealing
of the trailer no offloading at the Canadian port
of entry
The requirements stated here are
in addition to the Canadian import conditions for disease freedom
and testing (brucellosis, tuberculosis, anaplasmosis and bluetongue)
which must be certified on a United States Department of Agriculture
health certificate (VS 17-140).
Canadian Bison Official
Identification Plastic Ear Tags
The Canadian importer will be
required to supply Canadian Bison Association plastic ear tags to
the exporter prior to testing in the USA. There are two types of ear
tags approved. Herd ear tags or alternatively, a special issue of
preprinted plastic ear tags for import that are both available
through the Canadian Livestock Records Corporation (CLRC).
Information on how to obtain tags is available through the Canadian
Bison Association. These tags are in addition to the United States
Department of Agriculture metal ear tags.
Pre-approval of Quarantine
Facilities
The Canadian importer must have a
premise pre-approved by their district CFIA veterinarian for the
post-entry quarantine. For Canadian producers that are starting a
new operation, the district veterinarian will perform an inspection
of the facilities. For existing operations, the district
veterinarian may approve this facility without an inspection and
cost recovery fees if, through recent knowledge (within the past 24
months) and experience, the facility is considered suit- able. The
CFIA veterinarian will produce an approval document.
Quarantine premises must provide
the following features:
1). Be of suitable size and
construction to contain the number of animals in the shipment. The
perimeter fencing or panelling must be of sufficient height to
prevent contact to other domestic livestock.
2). Provide a minimum separation
of twenty (20) meters from other domestic ungulates (therefore, no
nose-to-nose contact and no drainage from the quarantine into other
livestock holding areas).
3). Provide separate feeding and
watering facilities for the imported animals.
4). Contain handling facilities
that meet industry standards in order that the imported bison can be
handled, tested, and examined in a safe and effective manner. If
there are common handling facilities with other livestock, a
thorough cleaning and disinfecting must occur after use by the
quarantined bison.
5). Contain unloading facilities
that are considered safe for handlers and bison, and capable of
preventing escape.
Supplemental Health Certificate
Provided by Private US Veterinarian at the Time of Loading
A supplemental health certificate
must be completed and endorsed by the accredited veterinarian who
provides assurance of the identity and health of the animals at the
time of loading. The accredited veterinarian will be required to
supervise loading of the shipment and to apply a USDA seal to the
trailer. If the seal is broken for such reasons as for: offloading
to rest animals, then an additional supplemental , health
certificate ensuring no contact with other US livestock and
resealing would be necessary. USDA endorsement will not be required
for the supplemental health certificate. The supplemental health
certificate is available from CFIA and it will be the importer's
responsibility to provide this document to the exporter in the USA.
Import Inspection
Imported bison under this protocol
will be allowed access through any port where veterinary inspection
service is traditionally provided by the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency. An appointment must be made in advance with the port of
entry veterinarian. Inspection will include review of the import
documents, inspection of the bison on the trailer, verification of
visual identification and confirmation of the USDA seal number. Any
significant problems encountered at this point with identification
or humane and health condition of the bison may result in refusal or
referral to a port of entry that has bison handling facilities for
off-loading and detailed inspection.
The seals will be broken by the
CFIA inspector at the port of entry and the load placed under
quarantine.
Post-entry Quarantine
The bison must be in quarantine for
at least 60 days and then tested for brucellosis, tuberculosis,
anaplasmosis and bluetongue. CFIA staff will visit the quarantine
during this period to assure the animals are held in isolation and
to do the testing.
CFIA COST RECOVERY FEES
Quarantine approval
New Premise: $300.00
2). Port of entry inspection
For the first animal on the
shipment: $36.00
For each additional animal on the
shipment: $7.25
3). Post-entry inspections and
testing
For the first animal in the
quarantine: $35.00
For each additional animal in
quarantine: $15.00
NOTE: The Canadian Bison
Association has the US. Import Tags preprinted and waiting for your
order. Please make sure you order your required tags well in advance
of the time you need them. Also it is very important that these tags
are applied at the time of the first testing by the veterinarian in
the U.S.
U.S. Import tag order forms are
available through the CBA office. Phone 306-522-4766
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