The Government of Canada says it has further strengthened its ability to protect aquatic animal health and ensure that the aquatic animal industry remains strong.

New regulations require all suspected or confirmed cases of serious aquatic animal diseases to be reported to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

 

The CFIA has amended the Reportable Diseases Regulations to include 20 diseases that pose serious risks to aquatic animal health, international trade, and the economy.

According to Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, “Canada is now better positioned to act quickly when serious aquatic animal diseases are detected.”

These amendments complement the recent changes to the Health of Animals Regulations, which enabled the CFIA to implement the National Aquatic Animal Health Program.

This science-based program helps protect finfish, mollusks and crustaceans from aquatic diseases.

The new measures ensure Canada meets the standards set by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) for preventing disease spreading from the trade of live animals or high-risk products.

These regulatory amendments were the result of extensive consultations with the federal, provincial and territorial governments, industry and stakeholders.