OK, here it is.
Enhanced Controls For Cattle Exported To The United States
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This Directive replaces the document titled "Protocol to determine if the heifers destined to be exported to the United States are pregnant or not" distributed on September 22, 2005.
1. Pregnancy Diagnosis
Only animals confirmed not to be pregnant are eligible for export under the U.S. Minimal Risk Rule. Palpation, ultrasound, blood test and a pregnancy termination agent are the four accepted methods for completing pregnancy diagnosis. The requirements for each of these methods are as follows:
a) Pregnancy diagnosis by palpation
Beginning January 12, 2006, new shipments must be segregated and physically separated by gender for at least 60 days before the palpation test is completed to prevent the misdiagnosis of early-term pregnancies, which can be difficult to detect;
Each animal must be inspected individually; and
If both uterine horns cannot be palpated for any reason to confirm that the animal is not pregnant, the animal must be considered pregnant and deemed ineligible for export.
b) Ultrasound Technology
Beginning January 12, 2006, new shipments must be segregated and physically separated by gender for at least 45 days before the ultrasound diagnostic technique is used to prevent the misdiagnosis of early-term pregnancies, which can be difficult to detect;
Each animal must be inspected individually;
All suspect cases must be considered pregnant and deemed ineligible for export; and
The accredited veterinarian must have the necessary experience and training in the use of such technology.
c) Blood Test
For the moment, the only recognized blood test for pregnancy determination is the Conception DG29 test. The animals must be segregated and physically separated by gender at least 60 days before being presented for this test;
The accredited veterinarians can obtain the necessary information and material for the collection and submission of samples at: Mr. Paul Rouillier (Conception), 392 Chemin du Fleuve, Beaumont, Québec, G0R 1C0, Phone: (418) 838-0772 ou 1-888-798-7285, Fax
418) 838-0701 ou 1-877-838-0701 E-mail:
[email protected].;
Each animal must be tested individually; and
This test must not be performed on animals having received a pregnany terminating agent as it could bring out false positive results.
d) Pregnancy Terminating Agent
All heifers confirmed or suspected to be pregnant must be clearly identified and segregated into a different group from the other export qualified heifers. Exporters may choose to treat such animals with a recognized pregnancy-terminating agent. Each treated animal must be re-examined using palpation or ultrasound no less than two weeks after this treatment is given and prior to export. An exporter may choose to treat every animal in the shipment; however, all treated animals must still be examined to confirm they are not pregnant; and
If the owner changes his mind and wants to send them for slaughter in Canada, the treated animals must not be slaughtered for use in food for at least two days after the last treatment with these products.
2. Spayed Heifers
Spayed heifers are exempt from pregnancy requirements. A declaration from the veterinarian who performed the surgical procedure must be obtained in order for the animal to be certified for export. Any information that assists in confirming the identification of the animal must accompany the declaration, including the official tag number from either the Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA) or Agri-Traçabilité Québec (ATQ).
Notes:
Segregation of gender should be done in a way where animals in one group cannot physically reach the animals of another group. As an example, a group of males and a group of heifers should not be placed in two adjacent fields separated only by a regular fence.
With respect to the 60 day or 45 day segregation period described above, pregnancy tests can be performed outside of the 30 day maximum period between the inspection and the export, if a strict segregation by gender is maintained from this moment.
3. Age Requirement
Only animals confirmed to be younger than 30 months of age are eligible for export under the U.S. Minimal Risk Rule.
Exporters must present to accredited veterinarians only appropriately aged animals. Accredited veterinarians will then visually inspect all cattle to screen-out animals that appear to be overage on the basis of physical characteristics such as size. Such animals must be removed from the group and clearly identified. These animals must not be reconsidered for export unless registered birth date information is provided.
The age of all animals which pass this preliminary screening must then be confirmed through dentition examination by the accredited veterinarian.
The accredited veterinarian will be required to reject the entire load presented for export if the rejection rate of cattle over thirty months is greater than 10%. The animals rejected during the preliminary screening or those rejected as a precaution measure are not included in the 10% calculation.
To continue with the export process, the exporter will be required to re-assemble the load and take actions to ensure that only eligible animals are presented to the accredited veterinarian for certification.
The following records may be used instead of dentition if the birth dates are available:
Agri-Traçabilité Québec (ATQ)
Canadian Cattle Identification Agency (CCIA)
Purebred registration certificate
Breeding or birth records from the herd of origin may be used if the accredited veterinarian considers that the data is reliable enough to be used.
4. Enhanced Certification Control
Normally, veterinarians accredited by the CFIA are responsible for the major part of the export certification process. However, in certain higher-risk situations CFIA veterinarians may perform an on-farm visit in order to discuss with the accredited veterinarian or the exporter, to check the records or the facilities, to supervise the accredited veterinarian's work or to inspect a part or all the animals within a shipment to verify cattle identity and dentition. Examples of higher-risk situations include, but are not limited to:
Exporters who ship infrequently (90 days or more between shipments);
Exporters who ship assembled loads where animals have an unknown or uncertain origin, especially if heifers are present and/or the animals are near the 30 month age limit;
Shipments where accredited veterinarians have observed 10% or higher non-compliance with age requirements during preliminary inspections.
In the case of shipments from previously suspended exporters, the additional oversight by CFIA staff will be applied on a mandatory basis until further notice.
Revised January 12, 2006
For additional information: Canadian Food Inspection Agency's Web Site
www.inspection.gc.ca
