Farmed Animals Working Group

National Farmed Animal Health Strategy
(NFAHS)

October 31, 2007

Working Paper Summary Report

INTRODUCTION

The early years of the 21st century have been most challenging to the Canadian farmed animal industry (e.g. bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), porcine circovirus, avian influenza).  The question remains, could events such as these have been avoided, mitigated earlier, managed differently, or could the destructive economic impact have been minimized?

It has been made abundantly clear by a number of reports and studies that the rate of change globally is accelerating, and this also involves Canada.  These changes are driven by social change, global trade, changes in trade restrictions, changes in public and scientific attitudes, changes in technology, climate change, disease emergence and spread, natural disasters, and the decreasing availability of fresh water, to name but a few.

To continue with the current farmed animal health system will undoubtedly leave the Canadian farmed animal industry constantly in a defensive and reactive position which will increasingly be damaging and perhaps non-viable.

At the heart of the discussion is the Farmed Animal Health system.  Is it capable today of responding to the changing demands of the present day, let alone the unknown future?

What is needed is a national, coordinated, and aligned system that is nimble in responding to what changes, challenges, and opportunities may lie ahead.  As well, a strategy for developing such a system is needed.

At the same time, there is a strong need for a unifying National Animal Health Strategy (NAHS) which would address the animal health needs of all animal species.  The process for developing this NAHS, however, must recognize and incorporate the requirements of the farmed animal sector as a fundamental component and driver of this study.

As a result, a second study, the National Farmed Animal Health Strategy (NFAHS) was initiated to ensure that the needs and concerns of the farmed animal sector would be adequately and comprehensively enunciated and then addressed in the process.  It is also important that a clear and unified message from the diverse range of players in the farmed animal sector, be presented in the NAHS to ensure that the final strategy will be meaningful and effective for all components of the farmed animal sector.

These two studies, while necessary, have produced some confusion and a lack of alignment between the two groups, especially since both studies used the term “strategy”.  This must be addressed and eliminated since it is counter productive to both.

The NFAHS must better position the farmed animal sector for the future. It must provide the appropriate authorities, structure, mechanisms, and funding to the farmed animal sector to enable it to,

• capitalize on opportunities
• avoid and prevent disease
• access domestic and international markets,
• mitigate adverse events in the most expedient manner possible,
• achieve economic and environmental sustainability
• provide and demonstrate responsible animal care which meets or exceeds accepted international standards.

The goal is for Canada to be recognized as a world leader in farmed animal health.

This paper outlines the perception and overall status of the current system for National Farmed Animal Health (NFAH), and presents recommendations for strategic approaches for the future.