Rabbit Advocacy Animal Matters

Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister for the Canadian Wheat Board, responds to Carmina Gooch's email of Oct 14/11  re: Live Animal Export & the CFIA 

November 15, 2011            Quote: 167322, 167559

Dear Ms. Gooch:

Thank you for your email, a copy of which was also forwarded to me by the Prime Minister's Office, regarding live animal exports and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

The vast majority of animals exported from Canada are destined for the U.S., which, like Canada, is a member of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Fellow OIE member countries are expected to follow OIE guidelines concerning humane transport and slaughter. The OIE has recently updated its Terrestrial Animal Health Code. Vietnam, Serbia, and Malaysia, the countries for which I recently announced exports, are all OIE members. Standards related to animal production systems are under study at the OIE, and I can assure you that Canada will play an influential role in their development. Information about future developments related to animal welfare at the OIE can be found at www.oie.int/animal-welfare/fixture-developments.

As I have noted in previous correspondence, the Health of Animals Regulations contain provisions for the humane transportation of all animals transported into, within, and out of Canada, and the Meat Inspection Regulations verify the humane slaughter of animals. That said, the CFIA has no regulatory basis on which to interfere with a shipment of animals that has left Canadian territory and is under the jurisdiction of another sovereign country.

Further to my other replies to you regarding animal welfare, the Government of Canada is providing funding for the development of an animal care assessment model and the national Codes of Practice for the livestock and poultry sectors. The Government actively contributes to improvements in animal care through its support of research, enforcement of regulations for the humane transport of animals, and the humane slaughter of animals in federally inspected facilities. 

I trust that this information is of assistance to you. Again, thank you for sharing your comments and concerns. 

Sincerely, 

Gerry Ritz, PC, MP c.c.: The Honourable Ed Fast, PC, MP