OTTAWA – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Dept. of Health and Safety of the European Commission (DG SANTE) reached an African Swine Fever (ASF) zoning agreement that will allow trade to continue in the event of an outbreak.

Zoning protocols already are in place with the EU under the Canada-EU Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), and those protocols apply to ASF. However, the government of Canada explained that the agreement reached July 3 is an additional layer of international collaboration in ASF mitigation while maintaining safe trade.

“Through continued international collaboration, the government of Canada is taking a leadership role in preventing and mitigating the potential impact of ASF, should it be introduced to Canada,” said Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. “Following the recently announced Canada-US zoning arrangement, we have now reached a similar arrangement with the EU so that our farmers can continue to earn their livelihoods from the trade of pork and pork products in case ASF is found in Canada.”

Canada exported more than C$4.2 million worth of pork and products to the EU in 2018. In the event of an ASF outbreak, geographic boundaries established in the zoning agreement are defined to contain the outbreak. The boundaries are control zones established in alignment with World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) principles. The areas outside of these control zones are disease-free zones.

“Canada and EU will continue to share expertise to prevent and control the spread of African Swine Fever,” said Jaspinder Komal, DVM, chief veterinary officer for Canada. “This arrangement is testament to our continued cooperation with international partners and our commitment to mitigating the potential impacts of ASF on Canada’s economy.”