Equidae Working Group

Documents - Workshop September 2007

Issue Statement - Equidae

1. Unfair tax burden of the equine sector compared to other livestock sectors
   Within existing Canada Revenue Agency tax laws, the equine species is not considered “livestock” and is therefore excluded from tax concessions from which other farmed animals benefit.
   – Horses are not “zero-rated” with respect to GST, thus making those products used in their management and care taxable.
   Production management and issues, such as animal identification, access to approved pharmaceuticals and animal traceability, have an associated economic component.
   – The equine industry seeks fair and equitable treatment within the scope of farmed animal species.
   
   
2. Limited availability of new and approved animal health pharmaceuticals
   Although regulatory concessions under Minor Species Use provisions provide limited access to new and approved animal health pharmaceuticals, access to Canadian products and price differentials of products between Canada and the U.S. represents a distinct competitive disadvantage for Canadian owners and is compounded by the tax burden mentioned under Issue Number 1.
   The access to modern drugs, which can be a serious welfare issue, affects horse transportation and quarantine.
   
   
3. Lack of harmonization among legislations/regulations/policies of various governments
   Federal and provincial/territorial governments should harmonize Canada’s regulatory framework to avoid creating internal barriers to trade or movement of livestock, including horses. This includes a response to Canada’s urgent need for a national identification and traceability program.
   Harmonization of animal health and food safety legislative/regulatory requirements with international trading partners (e.g. the U.S.) is necessary to facilitate the management and control of disease within livestock—specifically horses, due to their frequent travel to the U.S. This includes requirements related to animal identification and movement tracking/tracing.
   There is a need to articulate the clear roles and responsibilities of partners, particularly, for Canadian animals that are temporarily outside Canada or for those that are temporarily imported into Canada for sport, breeding, recreational use, etc.
   
   
4. Time delay in recognizing emerging diseases and their subsequent placing on reportable/notifiable disease lists managed by governments
   Federal and provincial/territorial governments are slow to recognize the seriousness of the emerging animal health issues raised by industry and to place the related emerging diseases on the reportable/notifiable lists.
   In some areas, access to qualified veterinary services is impossible. Diagnosis of symptoms by qualified experts is difficult to obtain.
   Research is needed into new diagnostic tools and standardization of pre-purchase diagnostic procedures for horses.
   
   
5. Lack of emergency plans for equine sector
   Emergency disease contingency planning and associated elements of transportation control, emergency depopulation and mass disposal, identification and traceability, as well as public education need to be part of future plans for the equine sector.
   Research, technology transfer and education are required to ensure acceptable manure management practices and composting—especially as a disease-transmission prevention tool.
   
   
6. Risks stemming from close contact between equine species and humans
   Equine species can be vectors of zoonotic diseases. Diseases, such as rabies and salmonellosis, are linked to human contact with horses.
   Humans have extensive contact with horses, possibly, more than with any other livestock species. Guidelines and education programs related to risk management are required to ensure the physical safety of horses and to other animals in contact with horses and humans.
   
   
7. Transportation of animals can lead to animal welfare issues
   Transportation of horses requires “made in Canada” solutions that are designed in cooperation with the federal, provincial and territorial governments to ensure a better harmonization of regulatory requirements. National standards and provincial/territorial regulations are needed in the areas of transportation and welfare.
   More education, research and funding support should be provided to the transportation programs, recognizing the importance of technology transfer and the training components of these programs. Private truckers, contractors and horse owners transfer approximately 85% of horses.
   The transportation of horses that are treated with drugs—some destined to slaughter—remains a problem; no standards have been established for the mandatory record of drug treatment with travel documents.
   The delays at border crossings prior to unloading horses at a checkpoint or at quarantine facilities are unacceptable. Frequently, horses remain in trucks up to 36 hours before unloading.
   
   
8. Lack of agreement on the acceptability of human consumption of horse meatCanadians have divergent views regarding the acceptability of raising horses for slaughter.
   Research that leads to clear guidelines is needed on the withdrawal period of drugs and the recording of drug use, as well as on acceptable slaughter practices.
   The use of non-approved drugs, for which withdrawal times remain unknown, and extra-label drug use are possible sources of residues in horses destined for slaughter. One example is the emerging problem of antimicrobial-resistant staphylococcus in some equine operations.
   
   
9. Land management decisions have a negative impact on the equine sector
   Urban sprawl and an array of municipal regulations addressing the management of animal numbers and the handling of waste is a growing issue for stables and racetracks.
   Research is needed for clear guidelines on managing and storing manure, on the acceptability of incorporating manure in soil as a fertilizing agent, and on the range of options for improving manure removal practices and/or for using manure as an ingredient for other products.
   Access to public lands and trails is particularly difficult in environmentally sensitive areas.
   – Some provincial/territorial governments are addressing access to public and private lands, but this leads to additional restrictions for users.
   
   
10. Lack of tools and guidelines to horse owners regarding humane euthanasia and disposal of carcasses
    
    
11. Lack of clarity of the rights, roles and responsibilities of horse owners versus horse custodians