Representatives from the Canadian federal, provincial, and municipal governments and the poultry industry concluded two days of meetings this week with a commitment to strengthen future responses to animal disease outbreaks.

The Canadian Poultry Industry Forum brought together more than 190 stakeholders to share perspectives on the avian influenza outbreak that affected the Fraser Valley in the spring.

The forum opened with an overview of the outbreak, which clearly demonstrated the unprecedented challenges posed by the scope and scale of the situation.

Senior officials from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency; the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Fisheries; and the poultry industry chaired the forum and commended the joint efforts of governments, industry, and area residents in the face of such unpredictable adversity.

The response operation was successful in eradicating highly pathogenic avian influenza from domestic birds in the affected area, confronting the potential for human illness and working together with national industry agencies in mitigating disruptions to the Canadian poultry industry.

Forum participants shared the concern that today’s global movement of people and commodities means that threats such as avian influenza will likely emerge more frequently in the future. This consensus underscored the ongoing need for coordinated emergency response capacity, and views were openly exchanged on how future operations should be strengthened.

Government and industry representatives pledged to review and enhance their respective emergency management plans. In particular the CFIA and the BCMAFF agreed to update and exercise the joint federal Foreign Animal Disease Eradication Support Plan. The parties recognized the need to collaboratively define roles and responsibilities with all levels of government and industry stakeholders during an emergency.

Federal and provincial governments also initiated discussions on strengthening linkages between laboratories participating in foreign animal disease testing and surveillance. Avian influenza virus is present worldwide and carried by wild birds, making biosecurity the most important preventative measure that all stakeholders can take to protect the health of domestic flocks. The poultry industry proposed to work with national, provincial and local authorities to develop biosecurity protocols that enhance existing measures.

Industry also tabled a number of proposals for new approaches to animal disease management. These included the establishment of a national working group to standardize biosecurity in the poultry industry and the creation of mechanisms to help improve rapid response and containment initiatives for any future outbreaks.

Governments committed to review these proposals in detail, considering their compatibility with existing animal disease management strategies and regulations. In addition, the three parties agreed on the need to review compensation levels under the Health of Animals Act.

Forum participants discussed the complex threats to human and animal health posed by diseases such as avian influenza. The CFIA, Health Canada and the newly established Public Health Agency of Canada committed to form a closer working relationship.

The federal government, with support from both provincial human and animal health authorities, will work toward the refinement of generic and disease-specific national emergency management plans, with a focus on prevention, early detection and rapid response.

The three co-chairs committed to produce a summary of the proceedings by mid-November. In addition, all participants committed to responding to all recommendations before Christmas.

Web posted: November 2, 2004
Category: Food Safety,Legislation and Regulation,Research,Trade
Domenick Castaldo, Ph.D.