Several concerns of the BC poultry sector regarding the handling of the highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza outbreak last year were addressed this week by a federal commitment of $1.8 million. Delivered over three years, the funding will support the BC Poultry Association’s preparation for direct participation in responses to future outbreaks. “The poultry industry …
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Plant health centre breaks ground
Ground has broken in North Saanich on a new Centre for Plant Health, Canada’s first line of defence against plant diseases. Representatives of the federal government and local First Nations gathered on site September 22 to mark the start of construction on a new diagnostic and research facility, operated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency …
Avian influenza returns
Poultry producers across the province are once more on high alert for highly pathogenic avian influenza after three positive test results in the past week. The industry went back to red level biosecurity protocols September 12 following a potential case in the Fraser Valley. The disease was confirmed at a commercial flock in Chilliwack with …
Bird flu in FV
ABBOTSFORD – A control zone was imposed on more than 50 commercial poultry farms in West Abbotsford last month following the discovery of highly pathogenic avian influenza at a local turkey farm, complicating the outlook for producers already under pressure from multiple supply chain issues. “We’ve been meeting our chicken numbers so far as allocation …
Bird flu hits Enderby farm
A broiler farm in the North Okanagan has been depopulated following the positive identification of the highly pathogenic H5N1 strain of avian influenza on April 13. Preliminary tests at a lab in Burnaby returned positive results, and samples were sent to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency lab in Winnipeg for confirmation. (BC’s own Animal Health …
New licences, new inspections
The rollout of the province’s new meat licensing regime October 1 will also mean stepped-up inspections of on-farm abattoirs. In addition to an annual inspection by the province, Farmgate Plus licensees (formerly Class D and E abattoirs) that slaughter cattle will also undergo inspection by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The inspections aim to preserve …