. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION   
G/SPS/N/CAN/604 
25 May 2012  
 (12-2760) 
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:   English 
  
 
NOTIFICATION OF EMERGENCY MEASURES 
 
1. Notifying Member:  CANADA 
If applicable, name of local government involved:     
2. Agency responsible:  Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item numbe r(s) as specified in national schedules 
deposited with the WTO;  ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where applicable):  Genetic material from bovine, bison, water buffalo, sheep and goat origin 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[ ] All trading partners   
[X] Specific regions or countries:  European Union  
5. Title of the notified document:     Language(s):     Number of pages:    
6. Description of content:  Animals must test negative for the Schmallenberg virus before 
their semen or embryos can enter Canada from EU member States.  Specifically, this will 
apply to bovine, bison, water buffalo, sheep  and goat semen, as well as bovine and bison 
embryos that have been collected since 1 June  2011.  Genetic material collected before 
1 June 2011 is not subject to additional requirements. 
7. Objective and rationale:  [ ] food safety, [X] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from other 
damage from pests.    
8. Nature of the urgent problem(s) and reason for urgent action:  The Schmallenberg 
virus belongs to a group of viruses that are tr ansmitted by insects that bite and is currently 
circulating in Europe.  The CFIA is taking th ese measures to protect Canada's national herd 
from the consequences associated  with this emergent animal disease.  The CFIA will 
continue to collaborate closely with regulatory officials in Europe to respect their control 
measures and the evolution of the scientific understanding of the disease. 
Canada's sanitary import requirements are available on the CFIA's Automated Import 
Reference System (AIRS) database which can be accessed through the CFIA website. 
9. Is there a relevant international standard ?  If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex standard 
or related text)   
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)   G/SPS/N/CAN/604 
Page 2  
 
  [ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)   
[X] None 
Does this proposed regulation conform to  the relevant international standard? 
 [ ] Yes   [ ] No 
 If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:    
10. Other relevant documents and langua ge(s) in which these are available:    
Recommendations as endorsed by the OIE Scie ntific Commission fo r Animal Diseases on 
16 February 2012 
http://www.oie.int/fileadmin/Home/eng/Our_ scientific_expertise/docs/pdf/A_Recommenda
tions_Schmallenberg_virus.pdf  
Automated Import Reference System 
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/imp/airse.shtml  (English) 
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/francais/imp/airsf.shtml  (French)   
Protecting Canadian Livestock from the Schmallenberg Virus 
http://inspection.gc.ca/about-the-cfia/n ewsroom/news-releases/schmallenberg-
virus/eng/1335537952583/1335538638641  (English) 
http://inspection.gc.ca/au-sujet-de-l-aci a/salle-de-nouvelles/communiques/virus-de-
schmallenberg/fra/1335537952583/1335538638641  (French)   
11. Date of entry into force ( dd/mm/yy )/period of application (as applicable):  
27 April 2012 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [X] National Notification 
Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  Address, fax number and e-mail address (if 
available) of other body:    
13. Texts available from:  [ ] National Notification Authority, [ ] National Enquiry Point.  
Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
For more information, please contact: 
Dr. Amy Snow 
Terrestrial Animal Health Division 
Canadian Food Inspection Agency 
59 Camelot Drive, Floor 3W, Room 126 Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0Y9 Canada  E-mail:  Amy.Snow@inspection.gc.ca