Dr. Mary Jane Ireland, executive director of the animal health directorate at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said the agency has plans to deal with outbreaks of every disease they are aware of.
She said hazard-specific plans are updated as diseases evolve around the world. An example was an outbreak of African Swine Fever in the Dominican Republic last year.
She said when an outbreak of highly-pathogenic avian influenza is suspected, samples are sent to the CFIA lab in Winnipeg for hasty analysis.
Philippe Morel said up to 10 per cent of CFIA’s staff were deployed last year to deal with outbreaks of avian flu.
Shawn Hoag, director general of the Canadian Border Services Agency, said importers must provide information prior to entry and border agents have the authority to inspect any shipment, to hold them and to destroy them if necessary.
He said the agency is considering adding x-ray equipment and detector dogs.
Tom Rosser, assistant deputy minister for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada said plans are in the works for a simulation of an outbreak of African Swine Fever to test the department’s preparedness to deal with an outbreak.
