Mowat Livestock Ltd. Enters Guilty Plea For Violating Health of Animals Regulations

December 12, 2012, Winnipeg: On November 1, 2012, Mowat Livestock Ltd. of Neepawa, Manitoba entered a guilty plea in the Provincial Court of Manitoba to one count of contravening Section 69(1)(b) of the Health of Animals Regulations.

The Honourable Judge M. Curtis accepted the sentence jointly recommended by the prosecution and counsel and imposed a fine of $50,000.

Mowat Livestock Ltd. was given 30 days to pay the fine.

Section 69(1)(b) of the Health of Animals Regulations states:

(1) Subject to this Part, no person shall export out of Canada livestock, poultry, animal embryos or animal semen unless

(b) the importation requirements of the country to which the livestock, poultry, animal embryos or animal semen are exported have been complied with.

A Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) investigation determined that between February 8, 2008 and August 28, 2009, Mowat Livestock Ltd. exported livestock, namely 100 bovine, from Canada to the United States without complying with the importation requirements of the United States under the United States Code of Federal Regulations Title 9, Part 93, Section 93.436(a)(1). The US Code prohibits the importation of bovine born before March 1, 1999.

The CFIA enforces federal legislation including the Health of Animals Act and its Regulations. The CFIA safeguards food, animals and plants which enhances the health and well-being of Canada's people, environment and economy, and access to international markets.

For more information, please contact

CFIA Media Relations:
613-773-6600