CROSS-BORDER LIVESTOCK HEALTH
The Cross-Border Livestock Health Working Group meets each year for an annual conference at the PNWER Summit. This conference enhances relationships and network-building between U.S. and Canadian jurisdictions, exchanging information on animal health issues/concerns, developing a common understanding of disease policies, exchanging information on emergency response to emerging and foreign animal disease, advancing Canadian and American animal health interests, and identifying and executing action items to collectively address animal and cross-border issues. For more information, please visit www.cblhconference.com.
The conference is committed to:
The conference is committed to:
- Supporting livestock-based RCC initiatives.
- Providing a forum for communication for stakeholder engagement.
- Tracking pilot project on e-certification in live cattle. Request specific criteria for system needs to fulfill data and security requirements from USDA and CFIA.
- Supporting animal welfare initiatives for the development of science-based guidelines/requirements. Promoting consistency of requirements for animals crossing international, state and provincial borders.
- Reevaluating past action item to include aspects of disease-prevention and detection as part of emerging animal disease.
2015-2016 Action Items
Action Item |
Progress |
Result / Next Step |
Encourage the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to review their current Vesicular Stomatitis (VS) policy, with a focus on the re-entry requirements of Canadian horses from USA. Ensure that current science and recent policy changes in the USA are considered during the review. |
Drafted letter to CFIA |
|
Send a letter to CFIA indicating PNWER’s support of Canadian Beef Breeds Council and Canadian Livestock Genetics Association request for CFIA to improve their permit process by ensuring permits are issued within a maximum of 7 days from the date of application. |
Drafted letter to CFIA |
|
Send a letter to USDA and CFIA indicating PNWER’s satisfaction with USDA’s progress on the Veterinary Export Health Certification System (VEHCS) project. As well, encourage CFIA to work closely with USDA to implement a complementary program in Canada. |
VEHCS pilot in three PNWER border crossings in WA/BC, ID/BC and MT/AB began in early 2016 |
Leadership
Contact information
brandon.hardenbrook@pnwer.org
p: (206) 443-7723
f: (206) 443-7703
- Dr. Martin Zaluski, Montana State Veterinarian; Co-chair
- Dr. Larry Delver, Alberta Beef Producers; Co-chair
- Kathryn Tonita, Saskachewan Ministry of Agriculture
- Brandon Hardenbrook, PNWER
Contact information
brandon.hardenbrook@pnwer.org
p: (206) 443-7723
f: (206) 443-7703
