WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/GEN/394
8 May 2003
(03-2456)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English/
French
RISK ASSESSMENT ON BOVINE SPONGIFORM
ENCEPHALOPATHY IN CATTLE IN CANADA
Statement by Canada at the Meeting
of 2-3 April 2003
1. In order to evaluate the risk for Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) in Canada, the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has carried out a risk assessment of BSE in cattle in
Canada, which is presented in the report "Risk Assessment on BSE in Cattle in Canada".  This riskassessment was patterned on the approach in the Office International des Epizooties (OIE)
International Animal Health Code and takes into consideration Canada's programmes of disease
control, preventive measures, monitoring, surveillance, as well as diagnostic test results since the
disease was first recorded in the United Kingdom in 1986.
2. The Canadian report is presented in three companion sections:  the first is an evaluation of
risk factors for BSE in Canada;  the second describes BSE surveillance in Canada;  the final section is
a quantitative analysis of the risk estimation for BSE in Canada.
3. The risk assessment concluded that the likelihood of establishment of BSE in cattle in Canada
prior to Canada's 1997 feed ban, based on the primary modes of transmission that were examined, is
negligible.  The introduction of additional preventative measures such as a feed ban (1977) and a
revision of the BSE import policies (2000) have further diminished the level of risk of infectivity
being introduced, propagated or amplified.  Canadian policies will continue to evolve as newscientific information emerges and is validated and as international standards change.
4. Canada's "Risk Assessment on BSE in Cattle in Canada" will soon be available in English,
French and Spanish at:  www.inspection.gc.ca.
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