CFIA to Implement New Import Requirements for Various Feed Ingredients March 29th to Mitigate ASF Risk

March 27, 2019 — 

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will soon be publishing new import requirements for unprocessed grains and oilseeds as well as associated meals destined for use in livestock feed sourced from countries that have reported an active case of African Swine Fever (ASF) in domestic or wild pigs within the last 5 years. These specific ingredients were identified to be the highest risk based on a comparative analysis of livestock feed imports conducted by CFIA and they are not looking at import controls on any other feed ingredients at this time. The date of implementation for these new requirements is Friday March 29, 2019. [Source: Animal Nutrition Association of Canada 25 March 2019]

Although feed represents a much lower risk vector for the introduction of ASF into Canada compared to travelers and the importation of illegal meat products, the serious implications to the domestic swine herd if this disease were to enter the country has resulted in a thorough evaluation of all potential risks, including feed. Based on CFIA's evaluation of this risk, as well as work conducted by a government-industry working group focused on feed ingredients, these import requirements were deemed justified to help minimize the risk of ASF introduction into Canada. It should be noted that controls on feed imports are only one of the many measures considered or implemented by the government to prevent ASF from entering Canada.

Once the new import requirements are published, all registered importers through CFIA's Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) will receive an email notification providing details on the changes. Given the short timeframe given by CFIA, any shipments that departed on or before March 29th will not be subject to the new requirements. As well, any shipments planned for export shortly after March 29th will be evaluated on a case by case basis by CFIA for acceptance into Canada.

CFIA has shared with ANAC the notice to industry which outlines these changes. However, details around the import requirements are not yet published but ANAC will share them with our members as soon as they become available. If you currently source unprocessed grains and oilseeds or their associated meals from the countries of concern, please contact Melissa Dumont for more details.