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Canada, U.S. agree on ASF border ban 

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Canada and the United States have reached agreement to ban imports if African Swine Fever is found in wild boar populations.

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Canada and the United States have agreed on protocols to guide bilateral trade in case African swine fever is detected in wild pigs.

Canada’s Chief Veterinary Officer Dr. Jaspinder Komal said this first-of-its-kind protocol will use a science-based approach to minimize trade impacts while protecting the swine populations in both countries.

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Under the protocol, all trade in live swine, swine germplasm, and untreated swine products would initially stop if ASF is found in wild pigs, while trade in products treated to make the ASF virus ineffective could continue.

The protocol describes three phases which would gradually reduce restrictions on trade for these products.

CFIA and the United States Department of Agriculture are continuing to work with industry and other stakeholders to make sure that both countries have the processes and procedures in place to fully implement the protocol.

Canada and the United States will continue to modify their export certificates to allow trade of live swine, swine semen, pet food and animal by-products and meat from approved disease-free zones in the event of an ASF outbreak in domestic pigs. Canada is divided between Manitoba and Ontario into two zones.

Komal said, “as ASF spreads around the globe, Canada cannot address this threat in isolation. Only by working together with other countries, industry and other stakeholders can we best address the threat of ASF.”

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