Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Import Policy for Bovine Animals and Their 
Products  and By-Products      
TAHD -DSAT -IE-2005-9-6 
 
Amendments:  Addition of table of Contents;  Added  new countries  to the  BSE categorization 
from OIE,  differenti ated countries based on no cases reported, only atypical cases or classical 
BSE cases reported;  effective dates of implementation of trading partners ’ feed bans ; 
definitions moved to a separate document via hyperlink; updated lists of countries of 
negligib le and controlled risks ; clarification of new import protocols for case by case 
evaluations, hyperlink to published policy where applicable  
 
TABLE OF CONTENTS  
 
1. Overview  
2. Definitions of BSE I mport Policy  Terms  
3. BSE-specific overview  
4. Country designation list – Negligible BSE Risk  
5. Country designation list – Controlled BSE Risk  
6. Canada’s determination of date of effective enforcement  of the ruminant to ruminant feed 
ban 
7. BSE-Specific Import Conditions for Commodities of Bovine Origin  
 
This policy, under  the legislative authority of the Health of Animals Act  and Health of 
Animals Regulations , spec ifies BSE-related import or transit conditions intended to manage 
the zoonotic and animal health risks associated with the presence of the BSE agent in bovine 
animals of an exporting country.  
 
OVERVIEW  
 
Situating the BSE import policy within the broader im port framework   
 
While this policy deals specifically with bovine spongiform encephalopathy ( BSE), it is 
important to recognize that other factors and diseases may play a role in developing the 
import conditions necessary to provide an acceptable level of protection for public and 
animal health.  This section addresses those factors.  
 
World Trade Organization members have certain rights and obligations, which are detailed in 
the Agreement on the Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures (SPS) Agreement  
as well as the SPS provisions of the North American Free Trade Agreement ( NAFTA ). One 
important obligation is that Canada cannot impose more rigid requirements on its trading 
partners than it applies domestically for diseases that are present in Canada. Another 
important obligation and right r elates to the concept of equivalence of veterinary 
infrastructure from one competent veterinary authority to another; another factor relates to 
equivalence of mitigating measures , which is the capability of different sanitary measures to 
achieve the same o utcome. Provided these proposed mitigating measures achieve the sameBovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Import Policy for Bovine Animals and Their  
Products and By -Products  
TAHD -DSAT -IE-2005 -9-6 
Page 2 of 13 
 level of protection as those required by Canada, following an objective scientific evaluation, 
the Government of Canada will accept those measures of the trading partner as equivalent.  
 
Under the Health of Animals Regulations , importation of bovine animals, animal products, 
animal by -products, animal pathogens and other things is allowed under certain conditi ons. 
The specific sections of the Regulations are : Part II, section s 7 to 16; Part III ; Part IV ; and, 
Part XIII, section 160 . 
 
CFIA uses the above regulatory authority as the basis for r ecognition of a specific country, or 
part of a country, as being free of, or as posing a negligible risk fo r, a particular disease, 
depending  on a variety of factors which include, but are not limited to the following 
parameters:  
 
the country having been assessed by CFIA as having an equivalent veterinary 
infrastructure to C anada’s, having an effective and implemented system for detecting 
and diagnosing diseases, as well as reporting outbreaks, and surveillance data to the 
international community.  
 
Additional import conditions related to other disease s such as Foot & Mouth D isease ( FMD ), 
Tubercullosis ( TB), Brucellosis,  are often necessary and can be found either in commodity -
specific import directives listed in the Import Policies and Dire ctives Web link  or in the 
Automated Import Reference System . The importer of bovine animals or products is 
obligated to ensure compliance with the specific requirements of other CFIA pol icies and 
directives that fall under the legislative authority of the Meat Inspection Act  and Meat 
Inspection Regulations , Feeds Act  and Feeds Regulations  and the Fertilizers Act  and 
Fertilizers Regulations . The requirements indicated with respect to the slaughter of bovine 
animals, namely, ante-mortem  and post-mortem  inspection, stunning, age determination, and 
specified risk material (SRM) removal and disposition must comply with the standards set 
out in the CFIA Manual of Procedures, Annex N, Chapter 4 , under the authority of the Meat 
Inspection Regulations . 
 
The Canada Border Services Agency  (CBSA)  assist s the CFIA with border clearance 
responsibilities and importers are obligated to meet any requirements of the Canada Border 
Services Agency Act  or other applicable legislation under  which Border Services Officers are 
designated.  
 
Bovine products and by -products used in the preparation of food, cosmetics, drugs (including 
pharmaceuticals for use in animals, pharmaceuticals and biologics for human use, and natural 
health products for u se in animals or humans) and medical devices are also regulated by 
Health Canada through product -specific regulatory programs, which are administered under 
the authority of the Food and Drugs Act  and Food and Drugs Regulations . Veterinary 
biologics and their components are regulated similarly by the CFIA under the Health of 
Animals Act  and Health of Animals Regulations . Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BS E) Import Policy for Bovine Animals and Their  
Products and By -Products  
TAHD -DSAT -IE-2005 -9-6 
 
Page 3 of 13 
 It is the responsibility of the prospective importer or licensee to be i n compliance with any 
additional import requirements or restrictions associated with the importation or licensing of 
a commodity for human use, or administration to animals.  
 
DEFINITIONS of BSE IMPORT POLICY TER MS (takes you to another page)  
 
BSE -specific overview  
 
The BSE import policy for bovine animals and animal products, animal by -products, 
germplasm, an imal food, meat, meat by-products and veterinary biologics, of bovine origin, 
adheres closely to the recommendations of the World Organisation for Animal Health  (OIE) 
and abides by the intent of the North American harmonization of a BSE strategy .1 
 
For the  purpose of this policy, bovine animals consist of cattle and bison  and their exotic 
relatives . Taxonomically they are classified as members of the Subfamily Bovinae  from the 
genus ’ Bos and Bison , which includes cattle (Bos taurus [Aurochs, both f eral and reared 
domesticated cattle]  and Bos taurus  indicus  [Brahma cattle, Indian humped cattle, zebu, zebu 
cattle ]) and  all bison ( Bison  bison ). 2 
 
Depending on the commodity being considered for importation, whether live animals, animal 
products or by -products o f bovine origin, BSE -related conditions may be required  if import is 
allowed . 
Canada accept s the OIE classification  for country BSE risk categorization . Therefore , CFIA 
does not routinely carry out indepen dent assessment regarding a country’s BSE 
categorization.  
LIST OF COUNTRIES BY BSE DESIGNATION  
The OIE classifies countries for BSE risk into three cate gories: 1) negligible risk; 2) 
controlled risk; and 3) undetermined risk.  
 
The following countries are r ecognized by CFIA as having a negligible BSE risk  in 
accordance with Chapter 11.4  of the Terrestrial Animal Health Code  of the OIE:  
 
                                                           
1 Report of the North American Chief Veterinary Officers on Harmo nization of a BSE Strategy, March 17, 2005, 4 pp.  
2 List of cattle types taken from the Integrated Taxonomic Information System,  a partnership of U.S., Canadian, and Mexican ag encies 
(ITIS -North America); other organizations; and taxonomic specialists .  The IT IS website, http://www.itis.gov/  was  accessed on May 26, 
2014. Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BS E) Import Policy for Bovine Animals and 
Their  Products and By -Products  
TAHD -DSAT -IE-2005 -9-6 
 
Page 4 of 13 
 Negligible BSE risk countries with no BSE cases reported:  
 
1. Argentina     
2. Australia  
3. Chile  
4. China (Peoples’ republic of)*  
5. Columbia  
6. Croatia  
7. Hungary  
8. Iceland  
9. India  10. Latvia  
11. New Zealand  
12. Norway  
13. Panama  
14. Paraguay  
15. Republic of Korea  (South)  
16. Republic of Malta  
17. Singapore   
18. Uruguay  
 
*  Does NOT include Hong Kong and Macao  
 
Negligible BSE risk  countries  with Atypical BSE cases only:  
 
19. Brazil  
20. Romania  
21. United States of America  
 
Negligible BSE risk  countries   with Classical  BSE cases:  
 
1. Austria  
2. Bulgaria  
3. Belgium  
4. Denmark  
5. Estonia  
6. Finland  
7. Israel  
8. Italy 9. Japan  
10. Luxembourg  
11. Netherlands  
12. Peru 
13. Portugal  
14. Slovakia  
15. Slovenia  
16. Sweden  
 
The following countries are recognized by CFIA as having a controlled BSE risk  in 
accordance with Chapter  11.4 of the Terrestrial Code, equivalent to Canada’s status (as 
recognized by the OIE):  
 
Controlled BSE risk  countries   with no BSE cases reported:  
 
1. Chinese Taipei  
2. Costa Rica  
3. Cyprus  4. Lithuania  
5. Mexico  
6. Nicaragua  
 
Controlled BSE risk  countries with Atypical BSE cases only:  
 
None at this time  
 Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Import Policy for Bovine Animals and 
Their  Products and By -Products  
TAHD -DSAT -IE-2005 -9-6 
 
Page 5 of 13 
 Controlled BSE risk  countries   with Classical BSE cases:  
 
7. Czech Republic  
8. France  
9. Germany  
10. Greece  
11. Ireland  12. Liechtenstein  
13. Poland  
14. Spain  
15. Switzerland  
16. United Kingdom  
 
Canada’s determination of the date the ban on the feeding of ruminants with meat -and-
bone meal and greaves derived from ruminants was effectively enforced3, by country : 
 
Note the term “effectively enfor ced”  as used by the OIE , for negligible risk, and controlled risk 
countries speaks of audit and control mechanisms. The various sections of the OIE Terrestrial 
Animal Health code state “ … demonstrated through an appropriate level of control and audit, 
including that of cross contamination, that for at least eight years neither meat -and-bone meal 
nor greaves derived from ruminants has been fed to ruminant s….” 4 
 
CFIA interprets effective enforcement as a country’s competent regulatory authority’s oversight 
of a feed ban  program . The OIE Ad Hoc Committee’s reports to the General session specifically 
uses the language that “…the appropriate legislation, control and audit of the proper 
implementation of the feed ban had been in force for at least eight years…” for all 12 member 
countries which the OIE ad hoc group recommends for BSE categorization in Annex 9 of the 
Report of the Meeting of the OIE Ad Hoc Group on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy Risk 
Status  Evaluation of Member Countries, Pa ris, 12 –14 November 20 13. 5  
 
Enforcement is defined by CFIA as the use of administrative tools as well as inspection powers 
granted under legislation to determine and compel compliance with the applicable laws . CFIA 
considers enforcement officials  to include inspectors, veteri nary inspectors, investigation 
specialists and officials of  government  agencies or departments who are designated to enforce 
legislation.6 
 
NOTE: - Certification statements regarding date of effective enforcement  of the ban on the 
feeding of ruminants with  meat -and-bone meal and greaves derived from ruminants  do not 
necessarily apply to all commodities. Importers are advised to reference commodity specific 
certification requirements within this policy, the hyperlinked Terrestrial Animal Import Policies , 
as well as the Automated Import Reference System  for commodity -speci fic instructions or to 
contact the CFIA local office (by province)  for further information  
                                                           
3 Terminology on effective implementation of feed bans as described in the World Animal Health Organization (OIE) chapter 11. 4 on Bovine 
spongiform e ncephalopathy (BSE), http://www.oie.int/index.php?id=169&L=0&htmfile=chapitre_1.11.5.htm  accessed on April 15, 2014  
4Sections 11. 4.3.3.a.ii , 11. 4.3.3.b.ii and 11. 4.4.3.a. and 11. 4.4.3.b, of the Chapter 11. 4 on Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy of the Terrestrial 
Animal Health Code http://web.oie.int/eng/normes/mcode/en_chapitre_1.11.5.htm  accessed Apr il 22, 2014  
5 Annex 9 of the Report of the Meeting of the OIE Scientific Commission for Animal Diseases, Paris, 10 -14 February 2014; which is the  Report 
of the Meeting of the OIE Ad Hoc Group on Bovine Spongiform  Encephalopathy Risk Status Evaluation of M ember Countries, Paris, 12 –14 
November 2013 https://www.baphiq.gov.tw/userfiles/A_SCAD_feb2014.pdf   accessed on April 22, 2014  
6 CFIA Compliance and Enforcement Operational Policy  
 http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about -the-cfia/accountability/compliance -and-enforcement/operational -policy/eng/1 326788174756/1326788306568   
accessed on April 15, 2014  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Import Policy for Bovine Animals and Their  
Products and By -Products  
TAHD -DSAT -IE-2005 -9-6 
 
Page 6 of 13 
 For negligible  risk for BSE countries   
 
January 1st 1996: Argentina,  Iceland,  Singap ore, and Uruguay  
January 1st 1998:  Australia,  Chile, New Zealand,  and Paraguay  
January 1st 1999:   Brazil, Switzerland, United States of America  
January 1st 2000 : Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Luxembourg, Malta, 
Netherlands, Norway, Portugal , Slovak ia, Slovenia, and Sweden,    
January 1st 2001 : Colombia and Japan  
January 1st 2002:  India, Korea (Republic of) , Panama and Peru  
January 1st 2005:  Bulgaria, Israel  
January 1st 2006:  China (People’s Republic of) excludes Hong Kong & Macao and Romania  
 
And for controlled risk for BSE countries:  
 
January 1st 1999:   Taipei China (a.k.a. Chinese Taipei and Taiwan),  
January 1st 2000 : Cyprus, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy,  
Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Mexico, Poland,  Spain, and United Kingdom.  
January 1st 2004:  Croatia, and Nicaragua  
January 1st 2005:  Costa Rica  
 
BSE -SPECIFIC IMPORT COND ITIONS FOR COMMODITI ES OF BOVINE ORIGIN  
 
An important tool for importers is the  commodity specific Terrestrial Animal Import Policies  as 
well as the Automated Import Reference System  which details s pecific import conditions and 
required documentation by product type or animal and includes non -BSE-related conditions, 
such as Foot and Mouth Disease requirements. More guidance on import requirements can also 
be obtained by contacting the CFIA local animal health office (by province) . 
 
The BSE -related import conditions by commodity are indicated below.  Any c ertification  
requirements in section a) through h) are to address potent ial cross -contamination with the 
bovine tissues listed below (these tissues are what are legally defined within Canadian legislation 
as SRM), and as such meet the OIE requirement and Canadian domestic legislative requirements 
that the commodity contain “no  other tissues of cattle.”  The OIE Code Commission emphasizes 
that the removal and avoidance of contamination with SRM , as defined by Canada  are 
paramount to manage the human and animal health risks associated with BSE.  Measures must be 
taken to exclude cr oss-contamination with the below -named tissues during slaughter, harvest 
and/or handling processes and certification by the veterinary administration of same. Products 
for human use may have additional conditions applied , in order to satisfy the requiremen ts of 
Health Canada . 
 
Exemptions to the conditions for the importation of animals, products and by -products or any 
other commodities not listed, may be considered on a case -by-case basis, taking into account  
such factors as the intended use, the nature of the product, the bovine tissues from which it was 
derived and the manufacturing and processing methods to which it was subjected. Applicable 
import conditions would be developed on the basis of the outcome of a prior risk assessment.  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Import Policy for Bovine Animals and Their  
Products and By -Products  
TAHD -DSAT -IE-2005 -9-6 
 
Page 7 of 13 
  
1. Milk, Milk Product s and Colostrum  No BSE -related conditions.   
 
2. Semen and In Vivo Derived Bovine Embryos Collected and Handled in Accordance 
with  the Recommendations of the International Embryo Transfer Society  No BSE -related 
conditions.  
 
3. Hides and Skins for Any End Use see policy on TAHD -DSAT -IE-2001 -1-2 Importation 
of Integumentary Tissue  for both the BSE and n on-BSE requirements.  
 
Countries of negligible BSE risk  No BSE -related conditions.  
 
4. Gelatin and Collagen Prepared Exclusively from Hides and Skins  
  
See the Highly Proce ssed Products directive  AHPD -IE-2001 -8-3 for both the BSE and non -BSE 
requirements . 
 
5. Tallow with a Maximum Level of Insoluble Impurities of 0.15  Percent  in Weight 
and Derivatives Made From This Tallow  
 
See the Rendered and Raw Inedible Products directive  AHPD -DSAE -IE-2002 -10-4 for both the 
BSE and non - BSE requirements . 
 
6. Dicalcium Phosphate (with no trace of protein or fat)  
 
See the Highly Processed Products directive  AHPD -IE-2001 -8-3 for both the BSE and non -BSE 
requirements . 
 
7. Meat and Meat By-Products  
 
7.1. Deboned  skeletal muscle meat , excluding mechanically recovered meat  
 
All Countries : Certification by the veterinary administration that:  
 
the deboned skeletal muscle meat (excluding mechanically separated meat) was derived from 
cattle which were not subjected to a stunning process prior to slaughter , with a device injecting 
compressed air or gas into the cranial cavity or to a pithing process, and which passed ante -
mortem and post -mortem inspections and which has been prepared in a manner  to avoid 
contamination with tissues listed in Article  11.4.14 of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code 
2013  
 
7.2. All other meat and meat by-products , including bone -in meat  
 
Countries of negligible BSE risk  
 Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Import Policy for Bovine Animals and Their  
Products and By -Products  
TAHD -DSAT -IE-2005 -9-6 
 
Page 8 of 13 
 Certification by the veterinary administration  was derived from cattle which were not subjected 
to a stunning process prior to slaughter , with a device injecting compressed air or gas into the 
cranial cavity or to a pithing process, and  that the country complies with conditions in Article 
11.4.3 of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code 2013  and: 
 
a) the bovine animals from which the meat and meat products were derived were subjected 
to and passed ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections, the meat and meat products were 
deemed fit for human consumption in the country of origin, and the facility in which the animals 
were slaughtered and processed was approved by the CFIA;  
 
AND  
  
b) Where  indigenous cases  of BSE have occurred, the meat and meat products were derived from 
bovine animals that were born after the date from which the ban on the feeding of ruminant 
animals with meat and bone meal (or greaves) derived from ruminants was effectively enforced.  
 
Countries of controlled BSE risk  
Certification by the veterinary administration that  the country complies with conditions in Article 
11.4.4 of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code 2013  and: 
 
a) the bovine animals from which the meat and meat products were deri ved were subjected to 
and passed ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections, the meat and meat products were deemed 
fit for human consumption in the country of origin, and the facility in which the animals were 
slaughtered and processed was approved by the CF IA; AND  
 
b) the bovine animals from which the meat and meat products were derived were subjected to a 
BSE slaughter process, which is any process for slaughtering an animal other than  a process in 
which the animal is subjected, before slaughtering, to : (i) a stunning process in which a device is 
used to inject compressed air or gas into the animal’s cranial cavity; or ( ii) a pithing process 
involving laceration, after stunning of the animal, of the animal’s central nervous tissue by 
means of an elongated ro d-shaped instrument that is introduced into the animal’s cranial cavity;  
AND  
 
c) the meat and meat products do not contain mechanically recovered meat  from the skull and 
vertebral column of bovine animals aged 30 months or older ; AND  
 
d) the meat and meat  products do not contain, were not prepared from or were not contaminated 
with: (i) distal ileum of all ages of bovine animals, and  (ii) palatine tonsils, the skull including 
the brain, trigeminal ganglia and eyes, the spinal cord and the vertebral column (excluding the 
vertebrae of the tail, the transverse processes of the thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, and the wings 
of the sacrum), from bovine animals aged 30 months or older . 
 
Countries of undetermined BSE risk  
 
Certification by the veterinary administra tion that:  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Import Policy for Bovine Animals and Their  
Products and By -Products  
TAHD -DSAT -IE-2005 -9-6 
 
Page 9 of 13 
 a) the bovine animals from which the meat and meat products were derived were subjected to 
and passed ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections, the meat and meat products were deemed 
fit for human consumption in the country of origin, and the fac ility in which the animals were 
slaughtered and processed was approved by the CFIA; AND  
 
b) the bovine animals, from which the meat and meat products were derived, were subjected to a 
BSE slaughter process, which is any process for slaughtering an animal other than a process in 
which the animal is subjected, before slaughtering, to ( i) a stunning process in which a device is 
used to inject compressed air or gas into the animal’s cranial cavity; or ( ii) a pithing process 
involving laceration, after stunning of the animal, of the animal’s central nervous tissue by 
means of an elongated rod -shaped instrument that is introduced into the animal’s cranial cavity; 
AND  
 
c) Any visible nervous and lymphatic tissues exposed during deboning were removed;  
 
AND  
 
d) the meat and meat products do not contain mechanically recovered meat  from the skull and 
vertebral column of bovine animals  aged 12 months or older ; AND  
 
e) the meat and meat products do not contain, were not prepared from or were not contaminated 
with (i) dis tal ileum of all ages of bovine animals, and  (ii) palatine tonsils, the skull including the 
brain, trigeminal ganglia and eyes, the spinal cord and the vertebral column, (excluding the 
vertebrae of the tail, the transverse processes of the thoracic and lum bar vertebrae, and the wings 
of the sacrum), from bovine animals  aged 12 months or older . 
 
8. Blood and Blood By-Products for Inedible Uses 
 
See the Rendered Products and Raw Inedible Products  import directive  AHPD -DSAE -IE-2002 -
10-4 for both BSE and non -BSE requirements.  
 
9. Blood  and blood by -products for Edible Uses (i.e. for food, cosmetics, drugs 
(including pharmaceuticals, biologicals for human use and natural health pro ducts), 
veterinary biologics or medical devices ) 
 
Countries of negligible BSE risk  
 
Certification by the veterinary administration that the country complies with conditions in Article 
11.4.3 of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Co de 2014  and: 
 
a) the bovine animals from which the blood and blood by -products were derived were subjected 
to and passed ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections, the blood was deemed fit for human 
consumption in the country of origin, and the facility in which the animals were slaughtered and 
processed was approved by the CFIA; AND  
 Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Import Policy for Bovine Animals and Their  
Products and By -Products  
TAHD -DSAT -IE-2005 -9-6 
 
Page 10 of 13 
 b) the bovine animals, from which the blood and blood by -products were derived, were subjected 
to a BSE slaughter process, which is any process for slaughtering an animal other  than a process 
in which the animal is subjected, before slaughtering, to (i) a stunning process in which a device 
is used to inject compressed air or gas into the animal’s cranial cavity; or a pithing process 
involving laceration, after stunning of the an imal, of the animal’s central nervous tissue by 
means of an elongated rod -shaped instrument that is introduced into the animal’s cranial cavity;  
 
AND  
 
c) the blood was collected from bovine animals by a closed blood collection method such as 
using a hollo w knife or cannula.  
 
Countries of controlled BSE risk and Countries of undetermined BSE risk  
Certification by the veterinary administration that the country complies with conditions in Article 
11.4.4 of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code 2014  (for controlled risk)  and Article 11.4.5 of 
hte OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code 2014  (for a country of undetermined risk) : 
 
a) the bovin e animals from which the blood and blood by -products were derived were subjected 
to and passed ante-mortem and post-mortem inspections, the blood was deemed fit for human 
consumption in the country of origin, and the facility in which the animals were slau ghtered and 
processed was approved by the CFIA; AND  
 
b) the bovine animals, from which the blood and blood by -products were derived, were subjected 
to a BSE slaughter process, which is any process for slaughtering an animal other than a process 
in which th e animal is subjected, before slaughtering, to ( i) a stunning process in which a device 
is used to inject compressed air or gas into the animal’s cranial cavity; or a pithing process 
involving laceration, after stunning of the animal, of the animal’s centr al nervous tissue by 
means of an elongated rod -shaped instrument that is introduced into the animal’s cranial cavity;  
 
AND  
 
c) The blood was collected from bovine animals by a closed blood collection method such as 
using a hollow knife or cannula.  
 
10.   Live Animals  
 
Countries of negligible BSE risk  and Countries of controlled BSE risk  
Certification by the veterinary administration that the country complies with conditions in either  
Article 11.4.3 of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code 2014  or Article 11.4.4 of the OIE 
Terrestrial Animal Health Code 2014 , as applicable, and where there has been an indigenous 
case:  
 
a) the animals are identified by a permanent identification system enabling them to be traced 
back to demonstrate that the animals were not classified as exposed cattle nor under any Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Import Policy for Bovine Animals and Their  
Products and By -Products  
TAHD -DSAT -IE-2005 -9-6 
 
Page 11 of 13 
 restriction for movement, slaughter or destruction control, as described in the 2009  OIE 
Terrestrial Animal Health Code Chapter 11.6 on BSE; AND  
 
b) The bovine animals were born after the date , as determined by CFIA,  from which the ban  
on the feeding of ruminant animals with meat and bone meal (or greaves) derived from 
ruminants was effectively enforced.  
Countries of undetermined BSE risk  
 
Importation of live animals from countries of undetermined BSE risk is restricted. Case by case 
evaluations are  possible in order to grant derogations to this restriction under CFIA’s  policy 
TAHD -DSAT -IE-2003 -3-8 Development of New Import Protocols - Procedures for Clients  
 
11. Ruminant -Derived Meat and Bone Meal (or greaves) or any Commodities 
Containing Such Products  
 
Countries of negligi ble BSE risk  
Certification by the veterinary administration that the country complies with conditions in either 
Article 11.4.3 of the OIE Terrestrial Animal Health Code 2014 ; and  
 
In the case of countries of negligible BSE r isk where indigenous cases of BSE have occurred,  
certification by the veterinary administration that  these commodities were derived from bovine 
animals that were born after the date from which the ban on the feeding of ruminant animals with 
meat and bone m eal (or greaves) derived from ruminants was effectively enforced.  
 
Countries of controlled BSE or of undetermined BSE risk  
Importation of these commodities from countries of controlled and undetermined BSE risk is  
restricted. Case by case evaluations are possible in order to grant derogations to this restriction 
under CFIA’s policy TAHD -DSAT -IE-2003 -3-8 Development of New Import Protocols - 
Procedures for Clients  
 
See the Highly Processed Products directive  AHPD -IE-2001 -8-3 for both the BSE and non -BSE 
requirements.  
 
12.  Gelatin and Collagen Prepared from Bones  
 
See the Highly Processed Products directive  AHPD -IE-2001 -8-3 for both the BSE and non -BSE 
requirements . 
 
13.  Tallow  with Greater than 0.15  Percent I nsolu ble Impurities in Weight and Tallow 
Derivatives Made from  Such Tallow  
 
See the Rendered Products and Inedible Products  import directive  AHPD -DSAE -IE-2002 -10-4 
for both BS E and non -BSE requirements.  
 
14. Dicalcium Phosphate Containing Protein or Fat Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Import Policy for Bovine Animals and Their  
Products and By -Products  
TAHD -DSAT -IE-2005 -9-6 
 
Page 12 of 13 
  
See the Highly Processed Products directive  AHPD -IE-2001 -8-3 for both the BSE and non -BSE 
requi rements . 
 
The dicalcium phosphate (containing protein or fat) is a by -product of gelatin production, 
produced according to the conditions for the importation of the commodity gelatin and collagen 
prepared from bones . 
 
15. Products Produced by Subjecting Bones to Rigorous Processes of Extraction and 
Purification such as Ossein, Bone Ash, Bone Charcoal and Bone Oil  
 
See the Highly Processed Products directive  AHPD -IE-2001 -8-3 for both the BSE and non -BSE 
requirements . 
 
16. Products and By-Products Produced by Rigorous Processes of Extraction and 
Purification Such as Animal Glue, Oleosterin, Triglycerides, Glycerol, and Sorbitan 
Esters  
 
See the Highly Processed Products directive  AHPD -IE-2001 -8-3 for both the BSE and non -BSE 
requirements . 
 
 17. Animal By-Products (bone meal, meat meal, blood meal, organ meats, rendered 
animal fats, gluestock, meat, inedible meat) as Ingredients Within Commercially 
Prepared, Finished Pet Food, Pet Treats, and Stuffed Pet Chews   
 
Refer to the Animal Health Import Requirements, Pet Food , AHPD -DSAE -IE-2001 -9-7.  
 
For specific details regarding i mportation of ingredients for the manufacture of the pet food , 
please refer to the Rendered Products and  Raw Inedible Products  import directive  AHPD -DSAE -
IE-2002 -10-4 for both BSE and non -BSE requirements . 
 
18. Dried Processed Rawhide, Cattle Ears, Bull Pizzles, Cow Hooves or Tendons as Pet 
Chews  
 
Refer to the Animal Health Import Requirements, Pet Food , AHPD -DSAE -IE-2001 -9-7.   
 
19. Veterinary Biologics (vaccines, antibody products, and diagnostic test kits) Derived 
From or Containing Bovine Tissues  
 
Countries of negligib le and controlled BSE risk  
Certification by the veterinary administration that the country complies with conditions in either 
Article 11.4.3 of the OIE Terre strial Animal Health Code 2014  or Article 11.4.4 of the OIE 
Terrestrial Animal Health Code 2014 , as applicable,  
 
As well as the following requirements as they are indicated on the import permit once issued.  Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Import Policy for Bovine Animals and Their  
Products and By -Products  
TAHD -DSAT -IE-2005 -9-6 
 
Page 13 of 13 
  
Importation of veterinary biologics, or their components, from countries of negligib le risk or 
controlled risk is authorized by issuance of import permits,  dependent upon examination and 
approval of the manufacturer’s certification that the products were not prepared from or were not 
contaminated, at any point during the manufacturing pro cess with : a) distal ileum of all ages of 
bovine animals, and b) palatine tonsils, the skull including the brain, trigeminal ganglia and eyes, 
the spinal cord and the vertebral column (excluding the vertebrae of the tail, the transverse 
processes of the th oracic and lumbar vertebrae, and the wings of the sacrum), from all bovine 
animals aged 30 months or older.  
 
This is done through facility inspections and examination of manufacturer’s documentation and 
certification for freedom from the above -listed mater ials. Factors assessed include the following: 
composition of the product (especially bovine -origin materials); BSE risk status of the country 
where each of the starting materials and product components were sourced; BSE risk status of 
the country where the  veterinary biologic was manufactured; manufacturing methods; target 
species and/or potential end uses of the product; and safe handling and disposal of potentially 
hazardous wastes associated with the imported materials.  
 
Countries of undetermined BSE ris k 
Importation of veterinary biologics, or their components, from countries of undetermined BSE 
risk is restricted. Case by case evaluations are possible in order to grant derogations to this 
restriction under CFIA’s policy TAHD -DSAT -IE-2003 -3-8 Development of New Import 
Protocols - Procedures for Clients  
 
20. Cell Lines, Culture Media, and Laboratory Reagents Derived From or Containing 
Bovine Tissues  
 
Countries of negligible, controlled and undetermined BSE risk  
Importation of cell lines, culture media and laboratory reagents from countries of negligible, 
controlled and undetermined BSE risk is authorized by issuance of import permits,  dependent 
upon multiple factors including  the intended use and the examination and approval of the 
manufacturer’s certification that the products were not prepared from or were not contaminated 
at any point during the manufacturing process wit h: a) distal ileum of all ages of bovine animals ; 
and, b) palatine tonsils, the skull including the brain, trigeminal ganglia and eyes, the spinal cord 
and the vertebral column (excluding the vertebrae of the tail, the transverse processes of the 
thoracic and lumbar vertebrae, and the wings of the sacrum), from all bovine animals aged 30 
months or older from countries of controlled and undetermined BSE risk .  
 
NOTE: Importers are advised to reference commodity specific Terrestrial Animal Import 
Policies , as well as the Automated Import Reference System  for commodity -specific instructions 
or to contact the CFIA local office (by province)  for further information. This policy does not 
remove any obligation to the Canadian importer to comply with th e import requirements of other 
CFIA programs and/or other government departments.