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Chapter 6 – Export to Mexico
6.5 Sheep and goats (updated June 2016)

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Health certification

1. General requirements described in section 6.1 must be reviewed.

2. The veterinary health certificate is the HA1385 Export of sheep or goats to Mexico/Exportación de ovinos o caprinos a México.

3. The status of the HA1385 certificate must be verified with the CFIA district office before beginning testing to ensure that the certificate is current and matches the "hoja de requisitos" and that Canada is free of diseases mentioned in article 2 and 3 of the export certificate: foot and mouth disease, Brucella melitensis, rinderpest and screwworm (Cochliomya hominivorax and Chrysomya bezziana).

4. The exporter should be advised that transits of sheep and goats to Mexico are currently prohibited by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Therefore, small ruminants exported to Mexico can only be transported by air or by sea.

5. The animals must be born and raised in Canada.

6. Regulations prohibiting the feeding of ruminant origin meat and bone meal and greaves to ruminants have been enacted in Canada on August 4, 1997.

7. The animals originate from a flock/herd:

  1. that is free of bovine tuberculosis;
  2. in which no cases of bluetongue, contagious ecthyma, or campylobacteriosis (Campylobacter fetus fetus and C. jejuni) were diagnosed within 12 months prior to the date of export;
  3. in which no cases of enzootic abortion of ewes were diagnosed for the past two (2) years;
  4. in which maedi-visna and caprine arthritis and encephalitis (CAE) were not diagnosed for the last three (3) years and in which no sheep or goats of inferior health status were introduced during that period. In case of addition, a written declaration from the actual owner will be accepted to confirm that this requirement is met. This declaration will be kept on file by the accredited veterinarian;
  5. which is enrolled in a Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program approved by the CFIA and has achieved Certified level or the exported sheep have the following genotypes: 136AA/171RR or 136AA/171QR (genotype option is only available for sheep);
  6. in which no case of classical scrapie was diagnosed during the five (5) years prior to the date of export;
  7. in which classical scrapie is not currently suspected; and
  8. which is not under investigation for an epidemiological link with a scrapie infected premises.

8. The exported animals were kept since birth or for the past six (6) months prior to shipment in an establishment where no case of contagious agalactia was officially reported during that period.

9. The animals being exported were not vaccinated against contagious ecthyma within sixty (60) days of export.

10. The animals being exported were kept in isolation (no nose-to-nose contact with animals not tested) on the premises of origin or assembled in a pre-export quarantine for a period of at least thirty (30) days prior to export.

11. In order to facilitate the mandatory inspection for the presence of ectoparasites at the Mexican border, the Mexican authorities (SENASICA) require all sheep and goats to be sheared within thirty (30) days of export. Animals that have not been sheared in accordance with these guidelines will be refused entry. Advise the exporter that it is his responsibility to comply with this inspection requirement.

12. The vehicles used for the transportation of the animals were cleaned and disinfected prior to their loading and the exported animals did not come in contact with other animals of an inferior health status during transportation.

Certification procedure

13. Animals must be individually identified

  1. For sheep, the official ear tag is a tag approved or considered equivalent by CFIA under the Livestock Identification and Traceability (TRACE) Program. These tags follow the ISO 11784 standard format with 15 digits, and may be electronic or non-electronic. The first 6 digits (124000) are not always printed on sheep tags.
  2. For goats, the official ear tag is a CFIA HofA (Health of Animal) tag, which must be applied to the left ear. Refer to module 2.1 Identification of Livestock for further information regarding the use of HofA tags and record keeping.

14. During the isolation or quarantine period described above, the animals were tested with negative results by a CFIA laboratory or a private laboratory for the following diseases:

  1. Maedi-visna (sheep) or caprine arthritis-encephalitis (goats) using an ELISA test performed at the CFIA St-Hyacinthe Laboratory (Health of Animals and Food Laboratory) or at a private laboratory that meets the requirement of Policy on the Use of External Laboratories for Export Testing and is using World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) approved methods (consult the district office for use of a private laboratory). This test is not required for animals that are less than one year of age;
  2. Epizootic abortion of ewes (sheep only) using a complement fixation (CF) test performed at the CFIA Ottawa Laboratory in Fallowfield; and
  3. Contagious epididymitis-Brucella ovis (sheep only), using a complement fixation test performed at the CFIA Ottawa Laboratory in Fallowfield. Option 8 b. mentioned on the export certificate can't be used and the strike out must be initialed.

Note:
Refer to the special procedure for submission to CFIA laboratories described in module 3.2 Serological Testing. A notification number for exportation to Mexico will be required (to be obtained from the district office) and a specific electronic template must be sent to the CFIA laboratory.

15. The animals were treated against ectoparasites and endoparasites within 14 days of shipment. The name of the product and the date of treatment must be recorded.

16. If scrapie genotyping (for sheep only) is used to support the certification, it may be performed on blood, and the sample must be tested in a CFIA-approved laboratory. The laboratory report must indicate that the sample was submitted by a licensed veterinarian. The sheep must be identified with an approved tag at the time of sampling and the identification number be recorded on the laboratory report. A copy of the test result must accompany the health certificate sent for endorsement to the district office.

17. The animals were inspected before departure and declared free of any clinical signs of infectious, contagious or parasitic disease including maedi visna/CAE, epizootic abortion of ewes, contagious agalactia and scrapie. The animals do not show evidence of ectoparasites, trauma, lacerations or visible swellings.

18. The exported animals showed no clinical signs of contagious agalactia on the day of inspection.

How to complete the Canadian health certificate (HA1385)

19. The accredited veterinarian must use the most recent version of the HA1385.

20. Mexican authorities do not accept hand written certificates. The certificate must be typed. A fillable pdf certificate is available through the district office. The reference number should be requested in advance from the district office, to avoid hand writing it on the certificate.

21. The accredited veterinarian must complete the export health certificate in English by entering all required information according to the directions provided above. The "Reference number" is provided by the CFIA district office. The completed health certificate shall be submitted to a CFIA veterinary inspector along with the genotyping result (if applicable) to review and, if all the requirements have been met, the certificate will be endorsed. An incomplete export certificate will be returned to the accredited veterinarian to be completed. A fee will be charged for CFIA's endorsement. Endorsed certificates will be returned to the accredited veterinarian. The health certificate is valid for 10 days from the date of inspection recorded on the certificate.

References

A copy of HA1385 is available at the CFIA district office.

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