CFIA Permit System to Control Specific Risk Material
CFIA has developed and will administer a new Permit System for the control and segregation of Specific Risk Material (SRM) in Bovine Carcasses. This measure responds directly to the recommendations of the International Panel of BSE Experts. This measure will:
- Protect Animal Health
- Reduce the time to eradicate BSE
- Protect public health by preventing SRM from entering the remaining non-food pathways of exposure.
- Maintain consumer confidence in the Canadian beef supply.
- Will help regain and expand market access.
These regulations will come into effect July 12, 2007. All bovine carcasses containing SRM will require a permit to be transported or received. There is no charge for CFIA SRM Permits. SRM tissues or carcasses containing SRM submitted directly to a laboratory are exempt from this Permit requirement.
Cattle Dying at a Veterinary Clinic:
- Under 30 Months of Age: This will include calves that are born alive and breathing. There will be an amendment to the regulations soon whereby a veterinarian can certify in writing that a calf never breathed before death and thus is not SRM.
Option a. Remove the distal Ileum. The distal ileum can either be disposed of on the clinic premises, or can be transported under a CFIA Permit (Note: the transporter will require this).
Option b. Leave the distal ileum in the carcass. The entire carcass is SRM and will require a CFIA Permit by the transporter, and the carcass must be marked with a visible stripe down the spine.
- Over 30 Months of Age:
The entire carcass must be handled as SRM and requires a CFIA Permit by the transporter, and spine marking. (Note: laboratory transport exemption).
Cattle Dying on Client’s Premises:
Veterinarians should advise clients of applicable CFIA requirements for transport. All dead cattle containing SRM cannot be transported off farm without CFIA Permit and spine marking. Deadstock services will be required to acquire these permits if their services are being used.
If veterinarians remove the distal ileum for cattle under 30 months as a service to their clients, they must provide a signed note stating that the remaining carcass is SRM-free. The carcass is not spine-marked.
Where municipal and provincial requirements permit, producers may dispose of SRM on premises.