Enhanced Animal Health Protection from BSE - Specified Risk Material (SRM)

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is enhancing regulations to more quickly eliminate bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), or mad cow disease, from Canada.

In infected cattle, BSE concentrates in certain tissues known as specified risk material (SRM). As a public health protection, these tissues are removed from all cattle slaughtered for human consumption. To limit BSE spread among cattle, the Government of Canada banned most proteins, including SRM, from cattle feed in 1997. To provide further animal health protection, as of July 12, 2007, SRM are also banned from all animal feeds, pet foods and fertilizers.

SRM are defined as:

  • the skull, brain, trigeminal ganglia (nerves attached to the brain), eyes, tonsils, spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (nerves attached to the spinal cord) of cattle aged 30 months or older; and
  • the distal ileum (portion of the small intestine) of cattle of all ages.

Permits

A permit is required for transporting and disposing of Specified Risk Material (SRM). Permits are also required for landfills receiving SRM.

Sector-Specific Guidance