Legislative

UPDATE! CHANGES TO THE BRITISH COLUMBIA WILDLIFE ACT

Minister Penner introduced Bill 29 to the BC legislature on Wednesday April 16th. This document is described as an “Enabling Legislation”. With this Bill the government introduces the notion of “controlled alien species” and enables the Minister to deal with these species by regulation.

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ALERT! - POSSIBLE CHANGES TO THE B.C. WILDLIFE ACT - POTENTIALY HARMFUL TO OWNERSHIP OF EXOTIC PETS

The Pet Industry Joint Advisory Council of Canada (PIJAC Canada) has recently learned that the government of British Columbia is looking into making some changes to the province’s Wildlife Act.

How does this affect you and why should you get involved?
• One of the options presented to the BC government suggests modifications to the list of animals that could be kept as pets in this province.
• Some of the changes could impose severe and unnecessary restrictions on owners of less traditional but highly recognized pets. We are talking about pet birds, pet reptiles, pet invertebrates, small mammals and ornamental fish. Without these pets, there would little need for their related pet products!
• Some proposed changes to the BC Wildlife Act could be presented as fast as the upcoming spring session of the legislature.

For more information on what PIJAC Canada is doing and what you can do, click below.

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AVIAN INFLUENZA AND THE CANADIAN PET BIRD INDUSTRY

New Import Measures for Live Birds

Further to discussions with officials of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), PIJAC Canada has received clarification on several key points relating to the new import measures for live birds from all countries that are free of the highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1, which initially came into effect on April 24, 2006.

For more information on pre and post import sampling and testing requirements, click below.

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CFIA IMPORT RESTRICTIONS FOR CERTAIN AQUATIC PLANTS

PIJAC Canada has been advised that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is currently reviewing its policy on aquatic plants as part of the Government of Canada’s initiative on invasive alien species. As a result, certain aquatic plants that may pose a risk of becoming invasive plants, will not be allowed entry into Canada until a pest risk assessment has been completed. Once completed, the CFIA’s aquatic plants policy will be finalized and posted on the CFIA web site. Importers of aquatic plants will be notified accordingly.

For more information on aquatic plants that will require a risk assessment and will not be allowed into the country, click below:

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BSE- ENHANCED FEED BAN – HOW IT AFFECTS YOUR PRODUCTS

As of July 12, 2007, new animal health requirements, referred to as the “Enhanced Feed Ban”, will be implemented by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to further minimize the risks of occurrence of BSE in the animal feed chain. Accordingly, it will be illegal to include certain cattle tissue capable of transmitting BSE, referred to as specified risk material (SRM), in all animal feeds, pet foods and fertilizers. To ensure compliance, suppliers of bovine animal products and by-products must provide their pet food manufacturing clients SRM-free ingredients prior to the July 12, 2007 deadline.

For more information on your legal responsibilities as a manufacturer or distributor/retailer of pet food, click here:

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PROPOSED IMPORT MEASURES FOR PET FOOD, TREATS AND CHEWS ORIGINATING FROM THE UNITED STATES

The Pet Food Association of Canada (PFAC) and PJAC Canada were recently informed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) of the import measures for finished pet food, treats and chews, and bulk rendered ingredients originating from the United States, that are expected to be introduced when the changes to Part IV of the Health of Animals Regulations are published in Canada Gazette Part II (most likely in late October). Until publication of these changes, (at which time an implementation date for the new measures will be set) the current import requirements, as per Prohibition Order No. 2, remain in effect.

For more information on the proposed import measures and the documentation that will be required, click here:

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