Contagious equine metritis (CEM) in the United States - Import restrictions for live horses

In early 2009, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) implemented new requirements for certifying equine germplasm (semen and embryos) and live horses from the United States (U.S). It did this in response to an outbreak of contagious equine metritis (CEM) in the U.S. These requirements remain in effect.

NOTE: For the purpose of clarity in this document only horses are mentioned. However, the following conditions apply to all equines including: horses, mules and zebras.

FOR LIVE HORSES: (including Canadian horses returning to Canada, but excluding horses for immediate slaughter)

Import permit: Not required (except for certain categories of horses in which additional requirements are in place in response to other disease outbreaks).

United States Veterinary Health Certificate: Required

The following certification is still required on all U.S. export certificates and for Canadian horses exported to the U.S. and returning on a Canadian health certificate: issued after January 19, 2009:

• The horse(s) has not been on a premises where T. equigenitalis (the bacteria that causes CEM) has been isolated during the 60 days immediately preceding exportation to Canada or a premises currently under quarantine or investigation for CEM. Any female(s) in the shipment have not been bred naturally to, or inseminated with, semen from a stallion positive for CEM, or a stallion resident upon a positive premises or under quarantine or investigation for CEM.

AND

• The horse(s) showed no clinical signs of CEM on the day of inspection.

NOTE:

For Canadian horses returning to Canada on a Canadian health certificate the CFIA endorsing office will provide a supplemental certification document with the above-mentioned requirements. It will do so when advised of the intended return date. The supplemental certification will need to be attached to the Canadian health certificate and endorsed by the United States Department of Agriculture before return of the horse(s) to Canada.