Requirements for Small Ruminants Imported from the United States for Feeding and Subsequent Slaughter
AHPD-DSAE-IE-2007-11-5
Januuary 26, 2010
Amendment: In the I.5., Post-Entry Requirement, time requirements for confirmation have been shortened from seven days to 48 hours.
Small Ruminants: are defined as members of the Family: Bovinidae, Subfamily: Caprinidae, Genus : Ovis and Capra. In this document, the term "small ruminants" applies to domestic sheep and goats.
A. General Import Notes
1. An import permit is required for any category of small ruminant importation and must be issued prior to the arrival of animals at a port of entry. A permit for the import of small ruminants for feeding and subsequent slaughter may be issued for multiple shipments over a period of ninety (90) days.
2. Individual identification that is traceable to the flock or herd of origin (defined as the state of origin for feeder animals) is required for any small ruminant imported into Canada. Identification must be an official United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) ear tag or a tamper-resistant ear tag approved by USDA - Animal Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) for use in the Scrapie Flock Certification Program, or a visible tag approved under a national identification program.
3. Small ruminants imported for feeding purposes may be male or female, intact, or neutered male animals. Female animals imported for feeding purposes ans subsequent slaughter must be non-pregnant.
4. Small ruminants for feeding purposes and subsequent slaughter must be entered for a minimum twenty-one (21) day feeding period before removal to slaughter and they must be under twelve (12) months of age at the time of slaughter and must be sent to slaughter to grade as lamb under Canadian grading standards.
B. Application for an Import Permit
1. The applicant must be a Canadian resident or corporation.
2. An application for a permit (CFIA/ACIA 5083) must be made in writing and submitted to a Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) District Office.
3. The applicant must also submit a diagram of the layout of the premises and documentation of the management practices to facilitate a review of the operation. A letter of commitment to supply import, monthly, and slaughter reports must be included.
4. CFIA staff will perform an initial inspection of the premises for the purposes of approval.
C. Approval of Premises for Feeding Purposes
1. During the CFIA visit, the feeding operation must demonstrate the following
1.1 The facilities are adequate for the handling and tracking of imported small ruminants while resident in the feeding operation.
1.2 There are regimes in place to complete the post-entry identification and association with import identification.
1.3 The ability to maintain records for submission to the CFIA as required.
1.4 A records management system that can track movement of animals within the feeding operation and removal to slaughter.
1.5 The ability to complete any management or structural modifications to the feeding operation, as necessary, to accommodate CFIA requests.
2. Receiving Inspection
2.1 Within forty-eight (48) hours of arrival at the feeding operation, the importer must arrange to supply to the CFIA District Office the records of national ID tags applied to animals as they relate to import identification. For small ruminant species that are imported, wherein no national ID program exists, the operator must maintain a visual identification system, which is satisfactory to the CFIA, to link to the identification used for import purposes.
2.2 CFIA staff will arrange to visit the feeding operation and verify the identification information provided for at least fifteen (15) percent of the animals imported.
3. Routine Visits to the Feeding Operation
3.1 CFIA District Offices are expected to provide an evaluation of the control of imported animals on-site at the feeding operation on a regular basis.
4. Importer’s Responsibility for Control and Movement to Slaughter
4.1 The importer shall supply to the CFIA District Office, by the tenth (10) day following the end of each month, a report on the feeder animals that remain on the premises. The report shall include a list of all animals treated in the past month and the reason for treatment.
4.2 The importer shall notify the CFIA District Office about the death of any imported animal, and obtain permission for carcass disposal, either on the premises or off-site. The CFIA may request post-mortem examination or visit the feeding operation to verify the identity and sex of the deceased animal before authorizing disposal.
4.3 For animals that are to be removed to slaughter, the importer must supply notice to the CFIA District Office, within forty-eight (48) hours prior to departure, on the number of animals and the location to which they are consigned. The movement may only be direct from the feeding operation to a federal or provincial slaughter establishment.
4.4 Within forty-eight (48) hours of slaughter, the importer must supply a list of identification tags for the animals, as recorded by the slaughter plant or other authority.
4.5 Premises that import small ruminants for feeding with subsequent slaughter may be subject to an on-site visit by CFIA Inspectors at any time without notice, including at the time of slaughter.
D. General Certification Requirements
1. Small ruminants may be imported into Canada from the United States for feeding purposes and slaughter, if the animals are accompanied by a certificate of an official veterinarian of the United States or a certificate of a veterinarian licensed in the United States and endorsed by an official veterinarian of the United States. The certificate is valid for thirty (30) days from the date of inspection of the animals.
2. An original of the certificate is required for each shipment but may cover animals on up to eight (8) vehicles or less, imported in a twenty-four (24) hour period. The first vehicle to enter Canada must present the original certificate and one copy. Each subsequent vehicle to enter Canada must carry two copies of the certificate.
3. The health certificate must contain the following information:
- the name and address of the exporter;
- the name and address of the importer;
- the location of the feeding premises if it differs from the address of the importer; and
- the individual animal identification, breed, sex, and age in months.
E. Test Requirements
Ovine
There are no test requirements for sheep imported for feeding purposes and removal to slaughter.
Caprine
Goats imported for feeding purposes and removal to slaughter require a negative tuberculin test within sixty (60) days of import. The date of test and negative result must be shown on the certificate.
Other Requirements
Pregnant sheep and goats are not eligible for import as feeder animals under this program. Any female animal imported as part of a shipment of feeder animals must be verified and certified to be non-pregnant.
F. Health Certification - Zoosanitary Certificate
Currently, the Zoosanitary certificate is as follows:
VS-Form 17-140, United States Origin Health Certificate
1. The certificate must state that the small ruminants in the shipment have resided in the United States or Canada for their entire life and have been inspected and found free from any evidence of communicable disease and that, as far as can be determined, they have not been exposed to any such disease during the preceding 60 days.
2. The feeding of meat and bone meal or greaves of ruminant origin to small ruminants has been banned since 1997, and the prohibition is strictly enforced.
3. The small ruminants in the shipment are identified by permanent identification, which allows for tracing back to the flock or herd of origin. (State at this time for feeder animals).
4. Any female animal in the shipment has been verified as non-pregnant.
5. The shipment is covered by CFIA Import Permit Number: .
G. Documentation for Importation
1. Small ruminants imported to Canada for feeding with subsequent slaughter must be accompanied by an original health certificate and at least one copy of that certificate.
2. If the shipment is contained in several vehicles, the original, along with one copy of the health certificate, must accompany the initial vehicle to the Canadian port of entry. Subsequent vehicles must be accompanied by two copies of the health certificate.
3. One copy of the permit issued to import small ruminants into Canada for feeding and subsequent slaughter must accompany every shipment.
H. Border Inspection and Requirements
1. Upon arrival at a port of entry, the shipment of small ruminants for feeding and subsequent slaughter must be presented to Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) personnel for reference.
2. The shipment must then proceed to the port veterinarian for inspection. Port veterinarians shall inspect the health certification and animals to their satisfaction, ensuring that the conditions for import have been met. If for any reason the certification or animals are not as described, the shipment will be rejected. Shipments will also be rejected if the load contains deceased animals or the animals are unfit for further transport.
3. The port veterinarian shall issue a CFIA/ACIA 1506, Animal Import Inspection Certificate, and license to transport the animals to destination.
4. Final release from the port of entry will be at the discretion of CBSA, after all documents are presented and in order for customs purposes.
I. Post Entry Requirements
1. After clearance, port of entry staff are expected to fax or mail a notice of import to the CFIA District Office that is associated with the feeding premises.
2. The importer shall advise the CFIA District Office of the import of feeder animals within forty-eight (48) hours of arrival.
3. For those animals enrolled in a national livestock identification program, the importer shall supply to the CFIA District Office within fourteen (14) days of arrival a list of the national ID tags applied matched to import identification. The importer must also report the information to the national livestock identification program administrator, as required by Section 189 of the Health of Animals Regulations.
4. The importer shall supply to the CFIA District Office, by the tenth (10) day following the end of each month, a report on the feeder animals remaining on the premises. The report shall include a list of all animals treated in the past month and the reason for treatment. The report shall also include notation of any animals that have died and the suspected cause.
5. For animals that have been removed to slaughter, the importer shall supply to the CFIA District Office, within 48 hours of slaughter, confirmation that includes animal identification from the receiving establishment.
6. The animals must be slaughtered before they reach twelve (12) months of age, as determined by dentition.
7. Premises importing animals for feeding purposes may be subject to on-site audit by CFIA Inspectors at any time.
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