Canada
CFIA Request for Comments - Aquatic Facilities Pathogen Containment Standards
Nov 24, 2009 08:35 PM
Containment Standards
for Facilities handling Aquatic Animal pathogens
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is seeking comments on the Containment Standards for Facilities Handling Aquatic Animal Pathogens. The draft Standards are available for comment on the CFIA website until January 4, 2010.
Federal standards exist for laboratories handling human pathogens and for facilities handling animal pathogens. The new standards outline the unique physical and operational containment requirements for facilities working with aquatic animal pathogens.
The CFIA issues import permits for aquatic animal pathogens under the Health of Animals Act. Once the Standards come into effect, only facilities meeting the requirements will be issued an import permit. The Standards will also be used to provide guidance on the handling of aquatic animal pathogens found in Canada.
A multi-disciplinary group including representatives from the federal government, academia and industry have reviewed the Standards.
Comments on the draft Standards can be submitted to standardsnormes@inspection.gc.ca and will be accepted until January 4, 2010.
We would ask that anyone who submits comments on the wording of the draft Standards to provide suggested alternate wording where possible.
Once the consultation period is complete, the comments will be reviewed and any necessary revisions will be made. The Standards will then be finalized, with a transition period to follow until December 31, 2010. Following the transition period, the Standards will come into effect on January 1, 2011 and will be mandatory for facilities importing aquatic animal pathogens.
For more information, please contact:
Office of Biohazard Containment and Safety
Canadian Food Inspection Agency,
Standards and Guidelines
standardsnormes@inspection.gc.ca
Telephone: 613-221-4219
The draft Standards, open for comments, is accessible at:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/sci/bio/anima/aqu/csfncie.shtml
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is seeking comments on the Containment Standards for Facilities Handling Aquatic Animal Pathogens. The draft Standards are available for comment on the CFIA website until January 4, 2010.
Federal standards exist for laboratories handling human pathogens and for facilities handling animal pathogens. The new standards outline the unique physical and operational containment requirements for facilities working with aquatic animal pathogens.
The CFIA issues import permits for aquatic animal pathogens under the Health of Animals Act. Once the Standards come into effect, only facilities meeting the requirements will be issued an import permit. The Standards will also be used to provide guidance on the handling of aquatic animal pathogens found in Canada.
A multi-disciplinary group including representatives from the federal government, academia and industry have reviewed the Standards.
Comments on the draft Standards can be submitted to standardsnormes@inspection.gc.ca and will be accepted until January 4, 2010.
We would ask that anyone who submits comments on the wording of the draft Standards to provide suggested alternate wording where possible.
Once the consultation period is complete, the comments will be reviewed and any necessary revisions will be made. The Standards will then be finalized, with a transition period to follow until December 31, 2010. Following the transition period, the Standards will come into effect on January 1, 2011 and will be mandatory for facilities importing aquatic animal pathogens.
For more information, please contact:
Office of Biohazard Containment and Safety
Canadian Food Inspection Agency,
Standards and Guidelines
standardsnormes@inspection.gc.ca
Telephone: 613-221-4219
The draft Standards, open for comments, is accessible at:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/sci/bio/anima/aqu/csfncie.shtml
Man fined for moving bait from VHS-positive waters
Oct 09, 2008 09:21 PM
Owen
Sound Sun Times, Ontario,CA
One Meaford-area commercial bait fisherman was fined $1,000 and another received a suspended sentence for moving bait fish that may have been infected with the fish disease viral hemorrhagic septicemia.
Bradley Wass, 49, was fined and Kenneth Wass, 21, received a suspended sentence after they both pleaded guilty to violating conditions of their commercial bait licence, the Ministry of Natural Resources said in a news release.
Justice of the Peace Bridgette Forster heard the case in Provincial Offences Court in Walkerton on Sept. 9.
The court heard that in October 2007 the men caught more than 1,000 litres of spottail shiners in the Bighead River, where viral hemorrhagic septicemia has been detected. VHS is harmless to humans but kills fish through internal organ failure.
They transported the fish to West Grey, where the disease has not been detected, the MNR says.
The disease, which affects a number of species including spottail shiners, may be spread by moving fish, water, vessels or equipment that has had contact with the virus, the MNR said.
To slow the spread of this disease in Ontario, the MNR established a management zone containing Ontario's virus-positive waters. Moving live bait fish from this zone to a disease-free zone is banned because it creates a serious risk that the virus will spread, the news release said.
Tens of thousands of fish infected with VHS have been found dead in Lake Ontario and Lake Huron. The virus mutated to exist in freshwater fish after its discovery first in saltwater fish in Europe.
About 20 Ontario fish ladders, including local ladders, were closed for a week in March 2007, then reopened, amid howls of protest from anglers and fishing clubs that doing so wouldn't stop the spread of a new threat to fish in the lower Great Lakes.
Source:
http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1222362
One Meaford-area commercial bait fisherman was fined $1,000 and another received a suspended sentence for moving bait fish that may have been infected with the fish disease viral hemorrhagic septicemia.
Bradley Wass, 49, was fined and Kenneth Wass, 21, received a suspended sentence after they both pleaded guilty to violating conditions of their commercial bait licence, the Ministry of Natural Resources said in a news release.
Justice of the Peace Bridgette Forster heard the case in Provincial Offences Court in Walkerton on Sept. 9.
The court heard that in October 2007 the men caught more than 1,000 litres of spottail shiners in the Bighead River, where viral hemorrhagic septicemia has been detected. VHS is harmless to humans but kills fish through internal organ failure.
They transported the fish to West Grey, where the disease has not been detected, the MNR says.
The disease, which affects a number of species including spottail shiners, may be spread by moving fish, water, vessels or equipment that has had contact with the virus, the MNR said.
To slow the spread of this disease in Ontario, the MNR established a management zone containing Ontario's virus-positive waters. Moving live bait fish from this zone to a disease-free zone is banned because it creates a serious risk that the virus will spread, the news release said.
Tens of thousands of fish infected with VHS have been found dead in Lake Ontario and Lake Huron. The virus mutated to exist in freshwater fish after its discovery first in saltwater fish in Europe.
About 20 Ontario fish ladders, including local ladders, were closed for a week in March 2007, then reopened, amid howls of protest from anglers and fishing clubs that doing so wouldn't stop the spread of a new threat to fish in the lower Great Lakes.
Source:
http://www.owensoundsuntimes.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1222362
Fishing in Canadian Waters
Jul 06, 2008 08:33 PM
If you are being harassed by Canadian law
enforcement officers while fishing in Canadian
waters, we strongly recommend that you contact your
local Michigan government official and
explain to them what is happening. Hopefully,
if enough people complain about this issue,
our Canadian-born governor can put some pressure
on Canada to stop this harassment. You can
locate your local government officials at
the links listed below.
Michigan House of Representatives: http://house.michigan.gov/representatives.asp
Michigan Senators: http://senate.michigan.gov/SenatorInfo/find-your-senator.htm
Michigan House of Representatives: http://house.michigan.gov/representatives.asp
Michigan Senators: http://senate.michigan.gov/SenatorInfo/find-your-senator.htm