Ottawa, Ontario – Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Canada's Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, the Honourable Marie-Claude Bibeau, welcomes over 150 delegates from 15 countries to the forum on African swine fever (ASF).
A global threat, ASF cannot be addressed in isolation and the Government of Canada is committed to collaboration between international representatives, industry, and the provinces to prevent and mitigate the risk of this animal disease.
Minister Bibeau is providing opening remarks for the forum and is joined by Mr. Greg Ibach, Under Secretary of Agriculture, United States Department of Agriculture, on behalf of US Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue.
Leaders and key decision makers from Canadian and international governments, as well as domestic and international industry stakeholders, will work together to develop a framework based on a foundation of science in four areas:
- Preparedness Planning
- Enhanced Biosecurity
- Ensure Business Continuity
- Coordinated Risk Communications
The Chief Veterinary Officer (CVO) for Canada, Dr. Jaspinder Komal, and the CVO for the United States, Dr. Jack Shere, are leading the two-day forum to address the risk of ASF that is currently impacting pigs in Europe and Asia.
The forum represents another piece in Canada's proactive and collaborative approach to protecting Canada's fourth largest agricultural sector, which contributes approximately $24 billion to the Canadian economy annually.
In light of the pace at which ASF is spreading through parts of Asia and Europe, the Government of Canada continues taking action to protect its pigs and the economy, including but not limited to:
- providing new funding of up to $31 million to increase the number of detector dogs at Canadian airports;
- implementing additional import control measures to prevent infected plant-based feed ingredients from ASF-affected countries from entering Canada; and
- engaging international partners on approaches to zoning, so that trade disruptions can be minimized, should ASF enter Canada.
Source : Government of Canada