By Dori Modney (@Dori_Modney on Twitter) with files from the CFIA

Federal Government outlines changes to animal transport regulations

Feb 21, 2019 | 2:08 PM

OTTAWA —   The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has released amendments to the Health of Animals Regulations on animal transportation.

The new regulations take effect in February 2020, allowing a one-year transition for the animal transport industry to prepare for the amended regulations. 

An unprecedented number of proposed amendments came from consultations with farm groups, transporters, members of the public and interested groups.  Over 51,000 comments came from more than 11,000 respondents.

The CFIA also took into account the latest research on animal transportation and international standards, to establishing clear and science-informed requirements, to establish regulations that reflect the needs of animals and improve overall animal welfare across Canada.

The new regulations include both prescriptive and outcome-based requirements to improve the health and wellbeing of the animals during the entire transportation process. The main objective is that animals arrive at their destination safely, and are suitably fed, hydrated and rested.

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The amendments go beyond transport journey times to cover the full time an animal is prepared for transit to the time they are installed in their new location. The new regulations are more detailed with respect to the different needs of different types of animals and specify intervals for transporters to provide food, water and rest.

Everyone involved in the transportation of animals in Canada must comply with the Health of Animals Act and the amended regulations. The CFIA will be providing guidance to industry to help them comply with the new regulations. If non-compliance is found, the CFIA will use a range of enforcement and compliance tools available to take action.

The Chief Veterinary Officer for Canada, Dr. Jaspinde Komal, is happy with the improved transport regulations.

“The changes to the humane transport regulations better align Canada’s requirements with international partners (for example the United States, Australia and the European Union), as well as the OIE’s animal welfare standards for animals transported by land, air and sea.”

Verification of compliance with humane transportation requirements will be conducted at various locations, including auction markets and other assembly points, slaughter facilities, border crossings into Canada and roadside inspections.

The CFIA releases a publicly available quarterly report of the number of non-compliance infractions and the administrative monetary penalties that were issued.
 
Not everyone is happy with the revamped regulations, as animal rights group Animal Justice, is calling the new rules a massive betrayal.
 
The group says the CFIA ignored the input of thousands of people who wanted significant changes to the regulations, such as shorter transport times, protections from severe weather and an end to the use of electric prods.
 
Animal Justice says it believes Ottawa gave in to lobbying from the meat and egg industries.