Canada Allows U.S. Breeding Sheep

April 27, 2007 - The border is now open for U.S. sheep producers to sell breeding sheep into Canada.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) issued policy on April 20 defining the requirements necessary to import breeding sheep from the United States to Canada. The regulation is effective immediately.

An import permit is required for breeding sheep to cross into Canada as well as individual identification of each animal, traceable back to the flock of origin. Ewes can only be imported if they originate from a premise in the United States that is enrolled in a scrapie certification program and determined to be from a negligible risk premises. The importation of male small ruminants requires only general certification and applicable tests.

The rule specifies that there are no testing requirements for breeding sheep entering Canada. Since there is no indication that a rule specifically addressing bluetongue testing for sheep is going to be published, no testing requirements would seem to cover this provision.

"There are a number of conditions and restrictions that must be met for export of female sheep," commented Peter Orwick, executive director for the American Sheep Industry Association. "Interested producers are encouraged to read the rule and contact a state or federal veterinarian with any additional questions."

For complete details, the CFIA policy can be accessed at www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/heasan/policy/ie-2007-5e.shtml.

According to sources within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, rulemaking to allow Canadian breeding sheep into the United States is being processed and will be completed soon.
Staff contact: Paul Rodgers, 303-771-3500

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