ALBERTA
EXPLAINS:
Alberta Cervid Import Protocols
Approved
(Requirements for Movement of Farmed Cervids from Canada and the
United States into the Province of Alberta)
This article was originally printed in the December 2000 / January 2001 issue of Tracking The Industry. . .
Approximately two years ago, the Province of Alberta began the process to evaluate the potential of accepting cervid imports from North America. This process was designed to carefully assess the potential of animal health risks not known to occur in Alberta which could enter this province from other trade jurisdictions. As a result, an extensive North American Risk Assessment was completed. The Risk Assessment identified the animal health issues of concern to Alberta in other jurisdictions . Once these animal health concerns were identified, the document, Requirements for Movement of Farmed Cervids from Canada and the United States into the Province of Alberta (Protocol) was completed. The Protocol sets the standards for cervid trade into Alberta in order to minimize the disease and animal health risks to the domestic and wild cervid populations, as well as other domestic livestock species. Input into the development of this Protocol was provided by the members of the scientific community, the Alberta cervid industry, wildlife interest groups, and other livestock industries.
The Protocol document was recently approved by the Honorable Ty Lund, Minister of Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development, and the Honorable Halvar Jonson, Minister of Alberta Environment. Detailed importation schedules, the process for importation, a regulatory change to allow whitetail importation into Alberta, and an import monitoring strategy are now being developed in preparation for accepting cervid import requests. When this information is completed, it will be forwarded to Saskatchewan Agriculture and Food, with the instructions on how to apply for an Alberta cervid import permit. The final import details are expected to be completed in early 2001.
Ellen Frombach
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