New regulations banning cattle specified risk material (SRM), from all animal feed, pet food and fertiliser came into force in Canada last week. The SRM are tissues that are believed to transmit bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) infection.

"Canada's new Government, in partnership with provincial governments and the industry, has taken a significant step towards accelerating the elimination of BSE from Canadian cattle," said Agriculture Minister Chuck Strahl. "These new measures will help increase access to foreign markets, and support Canada's status as a controlled risk country for BSE from the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE)."

Under the enhanced feed ban, producers can no longer feed any animal products containing SRM to livestock and abattoirs must properly identify SRM to ensure that it is removed from the feed system.

A permit from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is also required to handle, transport or dispose of cattle carcases and certain cattle tissues.

The agriculture ministry said that this system enables continuous control over SRM, so that it does not enter the animal feed system.

The enhanced feed ban was first announced on 26 June last year. Provincial governments, stakeholder industry groups, including the Animal Nutrition Association of Canada, the Canadian Cattlemen's Association, the Canadian Meat Council, and rendering operations have provided invaluable leadership during the implementation period to achieve the highest levels of readiness.

The effective implementation of Canada's enhanced feed ban will ensure the protection of animal health, and strengthen the cattle and beef industry's markets in Canada and abroad. Canada's New Government is committed to a future where BSE is eliminated from Canada's cattle herds. Earlier, in May 2007, the World Organization for Animal Health gave the official designation to Canada as a BSE Controlled Risk country.

In order to assist the industry to put in place the infrastructure for effective SRM disposal, the federal government is investing $80 million in provincial SRM disposal programmes. Provincial SRM disposal programs are supported through 60:40 federal-provincial cost-sharing agreements, which are now in place with most provinces.