Requirements for Small Ruminants Imported From the United States for Breeding, Domestic or Captive Purposes

TAHD-DSAT-IE-2007-5-5
February 18, 2011

Amendments: This directive has been extensively revised and completely replaces any previous versions.

Small Ruminants: are defined as members of the Family: Bovidae, Subfamily: Caprinae, Genus : Ovis and Capra. In general, the term small ruminants applies to sheep and goats and their exotic relatives (of the genus Ovis and Capra).

A. General Import Notes

1. An import permit is required for any category of small ruminant and must be issued prior to the arrival of animals at a port of entry.

2. Individual identification traceable to flock or herd of origin is required for all small ruminants to be imported.

3. The importation of male small ruminants requires only general certification and applicable tests.

4a) Female small ruminants for breeding, domestic or captive purposes can only be imported from a premises enrolled in the United States Department of Agriculture Scrapie Flock Certification Program (USDA SFCP) which is determined to be from a negligible risk premises.

OR

4b) They may be imported to a premises enrolled in the Voluntary Scrapie Flock Certification Program (VSFCP) in Canada from a premises enrolled in the SFCP in the United States of an equivalent or higher status than the importing premises in Canada. The importing premises in Canada must have been enrolled in the VSFCP for at least 24 months and had at least 2 annual inventories OR must currently not contain any small ruminants. The exporting premises in the United States must have been enrolled in the SFCP for at least 24 months and had at least 2 annual inventories.

OR

4c) They may be imported to a premises that enrolled in the VSFCP in Canada during the years 2009 and 2010, that has been enrolled in the program for at least 12 months, and has had at least 1 annual inventory. The exporting premises in the United States must have been enrolled in the SFCP for at least 24 months and had at least 2 annual inventories.

Please note that this option (c) is only valid until January 1, 2013, at which time all importing producers will be expected to meet one of the two options, a) or b), listed above.

(See certification requirements for breeding females, Section D)

Information on the status of the exporting premises in the United States and the importing premises in Canada must be submitted when applying for an Import Permit.

5. Female animals imported for temporary entry (stay of less than 30 days) that cannot meet the import requirements for breeding animals may be imported if they are certified by ultrasound examination not be pregnant at the time of entry to Canada.

Note: When applying for an Import Permit for temporary entry, the applicant must submit to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) proof of authorization from the USDA to re-enter the United States.

B. Test Requirements

Sheep (Ovis)

No test requirements.

Goats (Capra)

1. Brucellosis (B. Abortus)

The brucellosis test for the import of goats to Canada is the fluorescence polarization assay (FPA) or other test approved by the CFIA for this purpose, conducted within 30 days of importation. The tests must be performed in a laboratory that is approved to perform the test by the official veterinary service of the country of export. The results of the brucellosis test (including the type of test performed) must be shown on the required health certificate for the animal to be imported.

2. Tuberculosis

The tuberculosis test is the standard caudal fold injection of tuberculin with a reading of results at 72 hours as No Reaction and conducted within 60 days of importation. The results of the tuberculin test must be shown on the required health certificate for the animal to be imported.

Bluetongue – Sheep and Goats (State of Florida only)

Animals imported from the state of Florida require a negative test for bluetongue using the c-ELISA test methodology within 30 days prior to import.

AND

In the case of a positive result, a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test must be performed with negative results for virus within 30 days of importation.

It is suggested that animals being sampled have a serum sample and a blood sample drawn at the same time and that these be sent to the lab with the request that, if the c-ELISA test is positive, a PCR test should follow.

C. General Certification Requirements – Zoosanitary Certificate for U.S. Origin Small Ruminants

1. Small ruminants may be imported into Canada from the United States if the animal is accompanied by a certificate of an official veterinarian of the United States or a certificate of a veterinarian authorized by the USDA and endorsed by an official veterinarian of the United States that clearly identifies the animal and shows that:

1. the small ruminant and its flock or herd of origin were inspected by a veterinarian within 30 days preceding the date of importation and were found to be free from communicable disease; and
2. the animal was, to the best of the knowledge and belief of a veterinarian, not exposed to any communicable disease within 60 days preceding the date of the inspection.

2. The feeding to small ruminants of meat and bone meal or greaves of ruminant origin has been banned since 1997, and the prohibition is strictly enforced.

3. The small ruminant is identified by a permanent identification system, enabling trace back to its flock or herd of origin.

4. The small ruminant has in its right ear – or, if there is insufficient ear, in its inner right flank or tail web – a legible permanent tattoo that shows the letters USA, at least one centimetre in height.

5. The CFIA Import Permit number must be specified on the Health Certificate.

D. Additional Certification for Females

Please note that females can only be imported from flocks that are enrolled in the USDA SFCP. At this time, this includes flocks enrolled in both the Export Monitored and the Complete Monitored categories.

Note that for the flocks enrolled in the Complete Monitored category, an additional certification statement must accompany the shipment, as follows:

Based on reconciliation of flock inventory conducted on (date), I certify that all animals over 18 months of age which have died in the flock in the last (length of time) were submitted for Scrapie testing, and abnormal PRP was not detected.

The statement should reflect the fact that all deads (excluding those killed for the purpose of routine slaughter) over 18 months of age have been submitted for Scrapie testing for at least the past 24 months.

Females must be certified as originating from the following:

A Negligible Risk Premises

A negligible risk premises is defined as a premises that has maintained the flock or herd of origin and has complied with the following conditions for at least five (5) years:

1. All small ruminants have been permanently identified and records maintained to enable trace back to their premises of birth.

2. Records of movements of small ruminants in and out of the premises are documented and maintained.

3. Introductions of females and embryos are allowed only from premises of an equal or higher stage in the process of accreditation/recognition.

4. A veterinarian authorized by the Veterinary Administration inspects the small ruminants on the premises and audits the records at least once a year.

5. The premises is not currently subject to any scrapie control or eradication action and does not contain high risk animals, as defined by the scrapie program.

6. Small ruminants on the premises have no direct contact with female small ruminants from premises of a lower status.

7. All small ruminants over 18 months of age on the premises that have died or been killed for reasons other than routine slaughter have had samples collected and sent to a laboratory for scrapie examination and for all other known transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSE) strains. Sampling must include all fallen stock and animals sent for emergency slaughter.

OR

A Premises Enrolled in the USDA Scrapie Certification Program

It is defined as a premises that has maintained a flock or herd that is complying with the following conditions, but for less than five (5) years. The number of years of compliance should be stated. However, the exporting flock or herd must have been enrolled in the SFCP for at least 24 months and had at least 2 annual inventories. The conditions are as follows:

1. All small ruminants have been permanently identified and records maintained to enable trace back to their premises of birth.

2. Records of movements of small ruminants in and out of the premises are documented and maintained.

3. Introductions of females and embryos are allowed only from premises of an equal or higher stage in the process of accreditation/recognition.

4. A veterinarian authorized by the Veterinary Administration inspects the small ruminants on the premises and audits the records at least once a year.

5. The premises is not currently subject to any scrapie control or eradication action and does not contain high risk animals, as defined by the scrapie program.

6. Small ruminants on the premises have no direct contact with female small ruminants from premises of a lower status.

7. All small ruminants over 18 months of age on the premises that have died or been killed for reasons other than routine slaughter have had samples collected and sent to a laboratory for scrapie examination and for all other known TSE strains. Sampling must include all fallen stock and animals sent for emergency slaughter.

E. Permanent Identification System

This is defined as one of the following:

1. An official USDA ear tag.

OR

2. A tamper-resistant ear tag approved by USDA-Animal Plant Health Inspection Services (APHIS) for use in the SFCP.

OR

3. A unique alphanumeric ear tattoo; in the case of goats with insufficient ear space, the tattoo may appear in the flank or tail web.

OR

4. Electronic identification, provided that a reader that is satisfactory in determining the elements accompanies the animal into Canada.

AND

For imported small ruminants that are required by section 189 of the Health of Animals Regulations to have an approved tag applied under the national livestock identification program, the importer must report the mandatory information to the administrator of the program, as required and within the time period specified. In those cases where the animal does not already bear the approved tag at the time of import, the information will also have to be reported to the CFIA office where the importation occurred.

F. Additional Requirements

Animals imported into a premises enrolled in the VSFCP may only move to another premises also enrolled in the VSFCP of equivalent or lower status, or direct to slaughter.

A license for removal must be obtained from the CFIA district office responsible for the flock or herd. Restrictions on movement apply only until the flock or herd importing animals has met the Canadian definition of a negligible risk premises.

The movement of the offspring of an imported animal is not restricted. However, the movement of the offspring of caprine animals must be reported to the CFIA office of responsibility for the herd, until such time as a national identification program becomes mandatory.

G. Exemptions

An exemption from these requirements for non-domestic small ruminants will be considered on a case-by-case basis, considering the intended use for animals imported is for medical use, scientific research, or zoological collections.

Female animals that have been spayed (neutered) and have documentary evidence to link the event to animal identification may be imported with certification required for male animals.