CAHEM moves forward on emergency management of animal diseases in Canada.

The Board of Directors unanimously endorsed the efforts of the Canadian Animal Health Emergency Management as presented by Executive Director Matt Taylor, at its July meeting.

Matt Taylor converses with Keith Flaman about CAHEM’s collaborative
approach to animal health.

Currently, Canada does not have a national animal health emergency strategy, and the federal government, to date, does not support emergency management of diseases, despite BSE and Avian Flu.

CAHEM’s intent, which includes players from profit and nonprofit groups, is to meet domestic and international market needs by promoting a collaborative approach to animal health. A strategy would enable the continued marketing of a product in the certainty of emergencies and outbreaks of disease, and enable the agricultural industry to be an effective partner in a crisis. However, it must secure funds from Agriculture Canada and, consequently, is seeking endorsement from high-profile groups, such as Holstein Canada.

This coalition understands critical issues facing Canada and remains keenly aware of the country’s vulnerability. Eighty percent of new diseases have a livestock host, and a new disease can span the world in 100 days. The cost of a major Canadian outbreak, e.g. foot and mouth, could exceed $25-45 billion dollars. All the while, consumers expect a safe and secure supply of food.

CAHEM’s strategy is to prevent, prepare, respond, and recover quickly from a major disease outbreak anywhere across the country. It recognizes the importance of 1) a fast return to markets, 2) less market chaos, 3) a retention of shelf space, 4) protection of valued infrastructure, 5) maintenance of support in the domestic market, and 6) the value of a branded Canada strategy.

The coalition supports zoning . Canada is currently viewed as a whole by other countries. It is important that this country be recognized by specific zones, starting with West Hawk Lake at the Manitoba/Ontario border. The coalition also intends to conduct a lessons learned review of the avian flu outbreak.

When questioned about BSE, Taylor commented this tortuous path is a political issue and he expects nothing to happen before mid-spring/summer 2005. He opined producers should never have been given dates about the border opening from the onset. Canada has become too dependent on the US.

Experiencing the first-hand effects of dealing with BSE has given Canadians a different perspective on how they view BSE in trading relations.