The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has updated their policy directive relating to products and other material things coming to Canada from countries not designated by the CFIA as free of foot and mouth disease (FMD).
Items of concern for transmitting FMD or carrying plant hazards include, but are not necessarily limited to, the following:
- Animal manure, urine, blood, or other bodily secretions or things contaminated by any of these substances;
- Earth, dirt, and related matter; clay, silt, sand, soil minerals, humus, compost, earthworm castings, muck, plant litter and debris, either individually or in combination;
- Used motor vehicles, motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles and bicycles;
- Farm vehicles, tractors and implements; agricultural equipment, farm tools, garden tools, and garden furniture;
- Animal equipment, saddles, halters, bridles, livestock blankets, and feeding utensils; food bowls, brushes, buckets;
- Footwear and farm clothing;
- Plant propagation equipment;
- Containers, bags, boxes, crates, skids, pallets;
- Therapeutic agents, livestock medicines, vaccines, and biologics;
- Untreated hides, feathers, bone, horns and tusks; unprocessed wool, animal hair;
- Straw or other organic packing material;
- Meat-cutting and processing equipment; meat, dairy and egg products; and
- Plants, plant material, and seeds.
The document also provides information on the tracking and movement of goods to Canada, inspection procedures for imported goods, vehicles and their equipment, inspection on pallets, skids, wood packaging.
The plant protection operational directives also apply to some items from certain other countries, including the U.S.
The Health of Animals Act, sections 14, 16 to 18 and the Health of Animals Regulations authorize the CFIA and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to restrict the importation of live animals, animal products, animal by-products or things that are, or may be, contaminated by a disease or toxic substance.