BSE and the Feeding of Animal By-Products

Nutrition Update
Volume 11 No.3, February 2001

The practice of incorporating rendered ruminant animal tissues (e.g. meat and bone meal) into ruminant diets is a known risk factor that could contribute to the spread of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE). The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has programs and/or legislation in place to prevent the occurrence of BSE through the feeding of contaminated rendered products.

• Canada has not imported ruminant-derived meat and bone meal from European countries for several decades. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency indicates that Canada has never imported any animal byproduct from countries known to have BSE (e.g. United Kingdom).

• In August 1997, an amendment to the Health of Animals Regulations came into effect which prohibited the feeding of mammalian protein products (with the exception of products from porcine or equine origin) back to ruminants. Exempted products included tallow and blood meal.

• In December 2000, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency suspended the importation of all rendered animal proteins (including those of avian, porcine and equine origin) from any country not recognized as free of BSE. This also includes any products, which may contain rendered material. The only countries not affected by these measures are the United States, Argentina, Australia and New Zealand.

• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency spokesperson for BSE related issues is Dr. Claude Levine (613-225-2342).

For More Information contact your Local Specialist or MAFRI GO Teams Office or Centre.