The Canadian Pork Council is applauding the Federal Government’s stepped up efforts to keep African Swine Fever out of Canada, the funding of up to $31 million dollars to increase the number of detector dogs at Canadian airports to help prevent illegally imported meat products from entering Canada and the hosting of an international forum on ASF.
Gary Stordy, the Director of Government and Corporate Affairs with the Canadian Pork Council, said for the past several months’ ASF has continued to spread through Europe but more importantly, a rapid expansion in the Asian countries.
“We’ve been working with CFIA and CBSA, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Canadian Border Services Agency identifying that, while there are things that we can do on the farm, related to biosecurity and awareness at a producer level, there was a gap at several major ports of entry, mainly at the airports,” said Stordy. “This is where the federal government rightfully stepped in with a significant investment to increase the number of detector dogs in Canada that will be patrolling major airports and other ports of entry for meat products not declared.”
He said the reason for increasing the need for detector dog at some of Canada’s major airports is because travellers coming home after visiting foreign countries not only bring maybe one or two things but entire suitcases of meat products.
“Considering this is a potential risk to our industry these dogs will add to the protection for our industry,” said Stordy.
Manitoba Pork is also applauding these federal efforts. The introduction of ASF into Canada would put over 100 thousand jobs in jeopardy and could cost the Canadian economy $24 billion dollars.
George Matheson, the Chair of Manitoba Pork, said ASF is considered a foreign animal disease so, if Canada gets a single case, the borders will close to all nations.
“Probably our two primary concerns would be with regards to illegally imported meat and feed products which could, we’re thinking, primarily come from the Pacific, more specifically China,” said Matheson. “CFIA, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency with the Department of Agriculture in regards to the Federal Government of Canada are making producers aware of how it can move. In terms of feed quarantine, the rule of thumb is holding the feed for 20 days at 20 degrees or 100 days at 10 degrees, whichever is more convenient before feeding it so that the virus can die.”
He said it is a good thing that the government is investing over $30 million dollars in sniffer dogs at the west coast port of Vancouver primarily to detect illegally imported meat in luggage coming home from China.
For more on African Swine Fever or the ASF forum, Matheson encourages those interested in contacting Manitoba Pork directly. •
— By Harry Siemens