BSE In Canada | Canada Amends SRM Definitions for BSE Protection | On July 2...

BSE In Canada   Canada Amends SRM Definitions for BSE Protection   On July 24, the Canadian government amended its Food and Drug Regulations and the Health of Animals Regulations to further prevent specified risk material (SRM) from entering the human food supply from Canadian beef. This amendment clarifies the July 18 announcement by Health Minister Anne McLellan and Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lyle Vanclief of the additional measures the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) implemented to enhance its bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) controls. The amended regulations establish a more precise definition for SRM and prohibit the sale or import for sale of food products containing SRM from countries that are not BSE-free.   The amendments require the removal of SRM from carcasses and prohibit the export and use of SRM in food for human consumption. SRM are defined here as the skull, brain, trigeminal ganglia (nerves attached to the brain), eyes, tonsils, spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (nerves attached to the spinal cord) of cattle aged 30 months or older, and the distal ileum (portion of the small intestine) of cattle of all ages. The brain, trigeminal ganglia, eyes, tonsils, spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia are designated as SRM because, in BSE-infected cattle, these tissues contain the BSE agent and may transmit the disease. The skull is designated as well due to its high probability of contamination at the time of stunning and during manipulation of the other tissues, if their separate removal is permitted.   It should be noted that CFIA procedures specifically state: “In order to ensure complete removal of the distal ileum, the entire small intestine of all cattle regardless of their age must be removed and disposed of as inedible product.”  As defined for these regulations, “cattle” refers to the species Bos taurus or Bos indicus; it does not include other ruminants such as bison, muskox, yak or water buffalo.   All federally-registered establishments in Canada are required by a CFIA directive to comply with this SRM removal immediately. An effective date of August 23 allows later implementation for provincially-registered establishments, which typically do not export product.   The full CFIA Meat Hygiene Manual of Procedures is available at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/meavia/mmopmmhv/direct/2003/direct18e.shtml. Please see Chapter 4 – Annex N for regulations on the removal of SRMs (page 9).   The complete Health Canada press release is available at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/media/releases/2003/2003_59.htm.   Please submit your individual nominations for the 2003 USMEF Distinguished Service Award to USMEF by August 15. Click here to download the DSA nomination form in PDF format. Simply fill out this PDF, save it on your computer and then e-mail it back as an attachment to Tiffani Neitzel at tneitzel@usmef.org.   USMEF Board of Directors Meeting - November 5-7, 2003
Hilton El Conquistador Resort, Tucson, Arizona   BOD Sponsorship Form and BOD Reminder Postcard For more information on BOD Sponsorship, please e-mail John Hinners, Membership Director, at jhinners@usmef.org  

BSE In Canada   Canada Amends SRM Definitions for BSE Protection   On July 24, the Canadian government amended its Food and Drug Regulations and the Health of Animals Regulations to further prevent specified risk material (SRM) from entering the human food supply from Canadian beef. This amendment clarifies the July 18 announcement by Health Minister Anne McLellan and Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Lyle Vanclief of the additional measures the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) implemented to enhance its bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) controls. The amended regulations establish a more precise definition for SRM and prohibit the sale or import for sale of food products containing SRM from countries that are not BSE-free.   The amendments require the removal of SRM from carcasses and prohibit the export and use of SRM in food for human consumption. SRM are defined here as the skull, brain, trigeminal ganglia (nerves attached to the brain), eyes, tonsils, spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia (nerves attached to the spinal cord) of cattle aged 30 months or older, and the distal ileum (portion of the small intestine) of cattle of all ages. The brain, trigeminal ganglia, eyes, tonsils, spinal cord and dorsal root ganglia are designated as SRM because, in BSE-infected cattle, these tissues contain the BSE agent and may transmit the disease. The skull is designated as well due to its high probability of contamination at the time of stunning and during manipulation of the other tissues, if their separate removal is permitted.   It should be noted that CFIA procedures specifically state: “In order to ensure complete removal of the distal ileum, the entire small intestine of all cattle regardless of their age must be removed and disposed of as inedible product.”  As defined for these regulations, “cattle” refers to the species Bos taurus or Bos indicus; it does not include other ruminants such as bison, muskox, yak or water buffalo.   All federally-registered establishments in Canada are required by a CFIA directive to comply with this SRM removal immediately. An effective date of August 23 allows later implementation for provincially-registered establishments, which typically do not export product.   The full CFIA Meat Hygiene Manual of Procedures is available at http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/anima/meavia/mmopmmhv/direct/2003/direct18e.shtml. Please see Chapter 4 – Annex N for regulations on the removal of SRMs (page 9).   The complete Health Canada press release is available at http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/english/media/releases/2003/2003_59.htm.   Please submit your individual nominations for the 2003 USMEF Distinguished Service Award to USMEF by August 15. Click here to download the DSA nomination form in PDF format. Simply fill out this PDF, save it on your computer and then e-mail it back as an attachment to Tiffani Neitzel at tneitzel@usmef.org.   USMEF Board of Directors Meeting - November 5-7, 2003
Hilton El Conquistador Resort, Tucson, Arizona   BOD Sponsorship Form and BOD Reminder Postcard For more information on BOD Sponsorship, please e-mail John Hinners, Membership Director, at jhinners@usmef.org