Import Restrictions Announced for Horses from Florida Entering Canada

Ottawa, ON—The Breeds & Industry Division of Equine Canada would like to inform all stakeholders of the Canadian horse industry that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has imposed import restrictions on horses from Florida entering Canada due to a 2008 outbreak of equine piroplasmosis in the state of Florida.

Effective immediately the following conditions for horses from Florida for all end-uses, other than Canadian horses returning to Canada, will require an import permit. A veterinarian must inspect the horse(s) within 15 days preceding the date of importation.

The horse(s) must be certified for equine piroplasmosis as follows

• the horse(s) have not been on a premises where equine piroplasmosis (clinical or serology) has occurred during the 60 days immediately preceding exportation to Canada, nor has this disease occurred on any adjoining premises during the same period of time, and

• they must have tested negative using a cELISA test or, where applicable, an alternate test acceptable to CFIA for equine piroplasmosis, during the fifteen (15) days prior to the date of importation into Canada.

For horses for all end-uses from states other than Florida, the following requirements will apply

• during the previous twenty-one (21) days, the animal(s) in this shipment has/have not been in the state of Florida.

All the above-mentioned conditions, except for the import permit, will be certified by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDF).

In order to apply for an import permit, Canadian importers will have to contact one of the following CFIA area offices:

For the Atlantics
Dr. Allan McLean
Animal Health Staff Veterinarian
Atlantic Area
Telephone: (506) 851-7871
Fax: (506) 851-3700
Internet: mcleanaw@inspection.gc.ca

For Québec
Dr. Alain Lajoie
Program Specialist— Importation
Program Network—Quebec
Telephone: (514) 283-3815 (4210)
Fax: (514) 283-6214
Internet: lajoiea@inspection.gc.ca

For Ontario
Dr. Susan Wray
Program Specialist—Import
Program Network—Ontario
Telephone: (519) 826-2810
Fax: (519) 837-9771
Internet: wrays@inspection.gc.ca

For the West
Dr Gary Kruger
Veterinary Program Specialist
Program Network—West
Telephone: (403) 292-5825
Fax: (403) 292-6629
Internet: krugerg@inspection.gc.ca

Current import requirements for horses entering Canada may be found using the CFIA Automated Import Reference System (AIRS) at http://airs-sari.inspection.gc.ca . To determine specific import requirements for each horse, specific parameters that refer to each horse’s circumstances will need to be entered and customized import requirements will be provided.

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Equine Canada is Having an Equine Model Search

Ottawa, ON—Equine Canada is looking to update the look of its Equine Canada BMO Mosaik MasterCard. To help broaden our search we are looking for horse photos from you.

The chosen photo will be selected based on artistic and creative merit as well as suitability and overall appeal.

Submission Rules

• Submissions will be accepted in digital format only.
• Limit of two submissions per household.
• Submissions must be a minimum of 300 dpi.
• Submissions will become the property of Equine Canada.
• By entering a submission the entrant consents that both Equine Canada and the Bank of Montreal may use this image, royalty-free, for the purposes of the creation of a new of new Equine Canada BMO Mosaik MasterCard and its subsequent promotion.
• The welfare and safety of the horse and its photographer must be paramount in the process of acquiring the submitted image.
• Equine Canada reserved the right to deem a submission unsuitable.
• Submissions will not be accepted from Equine Canada or Bank of Montreal employees, Board or Committee members or their families.
• This call for submissions is not intended to be a contest. No prizes will be awarded.

If you think your horse has got the look, email your photo for consideration to ctataryn@equinecanada.ca.  Deadline for submissions is Monday, November 24, 2008.

About Equine Canada
Equine Canada is a member-based association that represents, promotes and services Canada's equine community and industry. Its core areas of activity involve sport, equine health and welfare, education and safety, governance and marketing, representation and communication. Equine Canada is recognized by Sport Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the International Equestrian Federation (FEI), the Canadian Olympic Committee and Canadian Coaching Association of Canada as the national organization representing equestrian sport and equine interests in Canada. For more information about Equine Canada, please visit www.equinecanada.ca.