B.C. Introduces Reporting Requirement for Cattle Arriving from Washington State
British Columbia has introduced a new reporting requirement for cattle producers bringing animals into the province from Washington State. As of October 27, anyone responsible for moving cattle onto a B.C. premises from Washington State must report the movement to the province's Chief Veterinarian within three days of arrival. This includes providing the Premises ID and individual animal identification numbers.
The reporting requirement was issued through a general order from the B.C. Office of the Chief Veterinarian in response to an outbreak of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) in dairy cattle in Washington State. While HPAI is most commonly associated with poultry and wild birds, the virus has also been detected in dairy cattle in the United States, causing decreased feed consumption and milk production, along with respiratory symptoms and changes to milk consistency.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has confirmed that HPAI has not been detected in dairy cattle or other cattle in Canada, and the risk of transmission to the public remains low. However, as a precautionary measure, lactating dairy cattle imported from the U.S. must undergo pre-import HPAI testing before entering Canada. Additional information, including a producer FAQ, is available through the Government of B.C.'s animal health website.
