Import of Bovine Blood and Bovine Blood Products into Canada from the United States
Effective July 12th, 2007 under the Enhanced Feed Ban Regulations

AHPD-DSAE-2007-9-1

PDF (72 kb)

For the purpose of this policy, bovine animals consist of cattle and bison. Taxonomically they are classified as members of the Subfamily Bovinae from the genus Bos, which includes cattle (Bos taurus and Bos indicus) and bison (Bos bison).

All bovine blood products present (either from domestic production or imported) in Canada on July 12th, 2007 must comply with Canadian national standards with regards to the enhanced feed ban regulations as of that date. Specifically bovine blood or blood product contaminated with specified risk material becomes specified risk material and is no longer exempted under Health of Animals Regulations (Section 170[3] b).

I - Imported USA bovine blood and blood products will not be subject to SRM controls within Canada if the following conditions are met.

The shipment must be accompanied by a valid import permit (copy or original) and an original official zoosanitary certificate signed by an official full time veterinarian of the competent authority:

1. Showing that the blood has been collected from bovine animals which were not subjected to a stunning process, prior to slaughter, with a device injecting compressed air or gas into the cranial cavity, or to a pithing process; and which were subject to ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections and were not suspect or confirmed BSE cases,

AND

2. An original official zoosanitary certificate signed by an official, full time, veterinarian of the competent authority showing that the blood has been collected (Check the box that applies)

EITHER from,

i. Bovine animals that were killed using a non-penetrative method, in accordance with humane slaughter practices (1; 2)

OR

ii. Bovine animals that are under 30 months of age, as determined by an age determination plan (HACCP type plan) approved by the Veterinary competent authority, with appropriate controls, monitoring, verification and corrective measures in place, ensuring that no incidental over thirty month animals (zero tolerance for any OTM).

Note that any SRM contamination would result in the blood being considered specified risk material under Canadian regulations. SRM contamination would be primarily neural tissue from OTM animals, incidental or otherwise.

OR

iii. Using a closed collection system in a manner to avoid contamination with the following specified risk materials:

• the skull including the brain, trigeminal ganglia and eyes, the spinal cord and the vertebral column, excluding the vertebrae of the tail, the transverse processes of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, and the wings of the sacrum, from all bovine animals aged 30 months or older; the small intestine and tonsils from bovine animals of all ages;

Blood collected by methods other than one of the above described methods, and not accompanied by a permit and an original, official zoosanitary certificate, will not be permitted to be imported into Canada. Alternate methods of prevention of cross contamination of Bovinae blood with SRM will be reviewed on a case by case basis using the science available at the time of submission of the application.

References:

1. www.grandin.com/welfare/general.session.html
2. www.jarvisengineering.com/stun.htm