Effective January 29, 2009, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has implemented new import requirements for equine germplasm (semen and embryos) from the United States.These actions are being taken as a precautionary response to an outbreak of contagious equine metritis in the United States.
Additional certification requirements for the import of live horses were implemented on January 19, 2009.
U.S. officials continue to investigate stallions and mares that may have been bred or exposed to animals that tested positive for CEM. More information on the U.S. investigation is available on the USDA Web site.
Click here for the new import requirements. Please contact your local CFIA area office to obtain an import permit application.
The CFIA will continue to work with USDA, provincial counterparts, affected producers and the equine industry in this response effort. Additional information will be provided as it becomes available.
More information about CEM is available by calling (800) 442-2342.
