Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) cases confirmed in Canada in 2009

BSE is a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Regulations. This means that all suspected cases must be reported to the CFIA.

The following table lists individual animals confirmed to be infected with BSE in Canada in 2009.

Updated: 2009-09-30

BSE safeguards in Canada

Canada has implemented comprehensive measures to protect food safety and animal health. These measures are based on internationally accepted science, and reflect the experiences of other BSE affected countries.

In May 2007, the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) officially categorized Canada as a controlled risk country for BSE, meaning the standards implemented in Canada meet the requirements for safe trade in a broad range of commodities.

Canada continues to intensively monitor cattle most at risk for BSE through the national BSE surveillance program. Roughly 268,000 cattle have been tested under the program since BSE was first detected in Canada in 2003.

The level and design of BSE testing in Canada has always been, and continues to be, in full accordance with the guidelines recommended by the OIE.

• BSE sampling numbers and test results

Food is kept safe from BSE by the removal of certain cattle tissues capable of transmitting the BSE, known as specified risk materials (SRM), from all cattle at slaughter.

The CFIA introduced an enhanced feed ban in July 2007. SRM are now banned from all animal feeds, pet foods and fertilizers. These measures accelerate our progress toward eradicating the disease from the national cattle herd.

For more information on Canada’s BSE safeguards, visit the following page:

• Overview of Canada’s BSE Safeguards

More Information

For more information on BSE and the CFIA’s response to confirmed cases, visit the following pages:

• Main page - BSE
• Federally Reportable Diseases in Canada - 2009