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3.1.2 Horizontal initiatives

3.1.2.1 Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Program

1. Name of Horizontal Initiative: Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Program

2. Name of lead department(s): Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA); Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) (2003-04 to 2007-08)

3. Lead department program activity: Animal Health Risks and Production Systems; Zoonotic Risks (CFIA only)

4. Start date of the Horizontal Initiative: 2003-04 (enhanced programming)

5. End date of the Horizontal Initiative: Ongoing

6. Total federal funding allocation (start to end date): $3,601.1M from 2003-04 to 2013-14 ($26.6M ongoing)

7. Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement):

The BSE program protects human and animal health by conducting research and risk assessments regarding BSE and other transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) and minimizing the risk of exposure to infected materials; maintains consumer confidence through assessing the effectiveness of the risk mitigation measures and having measures in place to control any potential outbreaks; and supports market access for cattle, beef and related products through promoting and explaining Canada's BSE program to domestic and international stakeholders.

Health Canada conducts research and risk assessments regarding human exposure to BSE and other TSEs, and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) carries out surveillance and research in this area as well. The CFIA verifies that specified risk material (SRM) is being removed from the animal feed chain and the human food chain, monitors products entering and leaving Canada for adherence to Canadian standards or the standards of the importing country, monitors for the prevalence of BSE in the cattle population (through surveillance), verifies that measures to control potential outbreaks are in place and explains Canada's BSE control measures to domestic and international stakeholders (for example, through the veterinarians abroad program) in order to maintain confidence in Canada's BSE program. AAFC has been involved in supporting, stabilizing and repositioning Canada's beef and cattle industry, including through the provision of compensation payments to stakeholders impacted by the BSE crisis, which started in 2003.

In 2003-04, the CFIA, AAFC and HC received funding over a five-year period (2003-2004 to 2007-2008) for measures to secure the future of the Canadian beef industry and for the same period, the CFIA received funding for the removal of SRM from the food chain and re-entering export markets (refered to as the enhanced BSE initiative). The CFIA received additional funding in 2004-05 over five years to reposition the Canadian beef and cattle industry to operate on a profitable and sustainable basis. Funding was also received to strengthen animal feed restrictions for a two-year period (2004-2005 to 2005-2006). In 2005-06, funding was received over four years for additional measures to address critical pressures facing the ruminant industry. In 2006, sunsetter funding was received for one year to continue the work the Agency was undertaking for the enhanced feed ban and in 2007-08, received ongoing funding to implement the enhanced feed ban restrictions. In 2008-09, the CFIA received funding to extend sunsetting elements of the enhanced BSE initiative for that year while a review of the enhanced BSE initiative was conducted and a comprehensive BSE risk management strategy developed. In 2009-10, the CFIA, PHAC and HC received funding over five years to continue work on the core BSE activities (for example, CFIA -- SRM removal from the human food chain, BSE surveillance and cattle identification; PHAC surveillance and research for human TSEs; HC risk assessment and targeted research).

8. Shared Outcome(s): Contributing to the protection of human and animal health, which supports domestic and international market access for Canadian cattle, beef and beef products.

9. Governance Structure(s):
The CFIA is the federal lead for the delivery of the BSE Program. In 2008, a summative evaluation of the CFIA's BSE program was conducted, which noted that the governance of the program should be strengthened to enhance coordination and communication regarding BSE-related activities, both internally and with other partner organizations. The CFIA accepted this recommendation and agreed to develop options for an improved governance model to facilitate horizontal dialogue that is consistent with governance models for related horizontal initiatives.

10. Planning Highlights:
For 2010-11, the key plans and priorities from a horizontal perspective are to continue to deliver the BSE Program to current standards as well as improve communication and coordination (for example, governance), performance measurement and reporting, and financial tracking.

11. Federal Partner: Canadian Food Inspection Agency

12. Federal Partner Program Activity	13. Names of Programs for Federal Partners	14. Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	15. Planned Spending for 2010–11	16. Expected Results for 2010–11
Zoonotic Risks	SRM Removal from the Human Food Chain	$91.5M	$9.5M	Safe food
Zoonotic Risks	Import Controls	$2.8M	$0.3M	Products imported into Canada meet Canadian standards
Zoonotic Risks	BSE Surveillance	$159.9M	$15.4M	Safe animals and food
Zoonotic Risks	Cattle Identification	$29.2M	$2.8M	Safe animals and food
Zoonotic Risks	Export Certification	$53.2M	$5.7M	Products exported from Canada meet requirements imposed by foreign countries
Zoonotic Risks	Technical Market Access Support	$44.1M	$5.0M	Confidence in Canada's animal production and food system, facilitating access to domestic and international markets
Animal Health Risks and Production Systems Zoonotic Risks	Enhanced Feed Ban	$241M (2004-05 to 2013-14) plus $26.6M ongoing	$26.6M	Safe feed, fertilizer, animals and food
Zoonotic Risks	Establishment Review	$2.3M	-	-
Zoonotic Risks	Oversupply of Aged Cattle	$0.3M	-	-
Zoonotic Risks	Meat Inspection Reform	$9.2M	-	-
Total		$633.5M plus $26.6M ongoing	$65.3M

16. Expected Results:
SRM Removal from the Human Food Chain
Outcome: Safe food.
Output/Activities: Continue the enforcement and verification of SRM removal by CFIA inspection staff.
Indicator: Compliance rate of industry for removal of SRM.*
Targets and Tracking: TBD*

Import Controls
Outcome: Products imported into Canada meet Canadian standards.
Output/Activities: Review and update current import policies and conditions for BSE as required in order to reflect changes to international standards and evolving science.
Indicator: TBD*
Targets and Tracking: TBD*

BSE Surveillance
Outcome: Safe animals and food.
Output/Activities: Analyze options to redesign the BSE surveillance program and consult with stakeholders to explore further targeting of surveillance.
Indicator: Temporal trend in exposure to the BSE agent in the cattle population.*
Targets and Tracking: TBD*

Cattle Identification
Outcome: Safe animals and food.
Output/Activities: Continue work on cattle identification enforcement activities, including verification at auctions and federally and provincially inspected abattoirs that cattle are identified with an official ear tag.
Indicator: TBD*
Targets and Tracking: TBD*

Export Certification
Outcome: Products exported from Canada meet requirements imposed by foreign countries. Output/Activities: Continue the provision of export-related certification services to a wide range of affected industries.
Indicator: Independent assessment reviews.*
Targets and Tracking: TBD*

Technical Market Access Support
Outcome: Maintain and improve confidence in Canada's animal production and food system, facilitating access to domestic and international markets.
Output/Activities: Continue the establishment and maintenance of strong relationships with trading partners, and the provision of global leadership and influence regarding international policies and standards development.
Indicator: Trends in market demand for Canadian bovines and beef products; media tracking for consumer confidence in beef in Canada.*
Targets and Tracking: TBD*

Enhanced Feed Ban
Outcome: Safe feed, fertilizer, animals and food.
Output/Activities: Continue the enforcement of enhanced feed ban restrictions.
Indicator: Trends in compliance with regulations associated with the enhanced feed ban; trends in proportion of feed mills and renderers using prohibited materials/SRM and producing ruminant feeds.*
Targets and Tracking: TBD*

*Note: A review of the CFIA's performance measurement framework for BSE is currently being undertaken, which has included the development of draft key indicators for certain program elements (as indicated above). Targets and tracking methods have not yet been determined. An interdepartmental Performance Measurement Strategy will be finalized.

11. Federal Partner: Health Canada

12. Federal Partner Program Activity	13. Names of Programs for Federal Partners	14. Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	15. Planned Spending for 2010–11	16. Expected Results for 2010–11
Health Products Food and Nutrition	Risk Assessment and Targeted Research	$62.1M	$6.2M	Increased expertise and knowledge of BSE/TSE science, risks and product surveillance
	Compliance and Enforcement+	$1.0M	-
	Product Assessment+	$6.2M	-
	Tracking and Tracing+	$3.1M	-
Total		$72.4M	$6.2M

+Funding sunsetted in 2007/08

16. Expected Results: TBD*
Risk Assessment and Targeted Research
Outcome: Increased expertise and knowledge of BSE/TSE science, risks and product surveillance
Output/Activities: Conduct consultations with stakeholders, external collaborations/research and training and conferences attendence.

Indicators and Targets: TBD*

*Note: A review of Health Canada's performance measurement framework for BSE is currently being undertaken, which has included the development of draft key indicators for certain program elements (as indicated above). Targets and tracking methods have not yet been determined.

*Note: An interdepartmental Performance Measurement Strategy will be finalized.

11. Federal Partner: Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC)

12. Federal Partner Program Activity	13. Names of Programs for Federal Partners	14. Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	15. Planned Spending for 2010–11	16. Expected Results for 2010–11
Comprehensive detection and characterization of all human transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) in Canada Research and development to improve diagnostic and surveillance capabilities for human TSEs Targeted research to improve scientific understanding of biology of human TSEs	Surveillance and Research for Human TSEs	$7.9M	$0.8M	Risks of human TSEs in Canada remain clearly defined and well controlled.
Total		$7.9M	$0.8M

16. Expected Results:
Surveillance and Research for Human TSEs
Outcome: Risks of human TSEs in Canada remain clearly defined and well controlled.
Output/Activities: Continued detailed case-by-case, laboratory-based investigation of all human TSEs across Canada; improved methods and strategies for efficient case investigation; research publications.
Indicator: Alignment of PHAC data from human TSE surveillance with international benchmarks.
Targets and Tracking: TBD

Total Allocation For All Federal Partners (from Start to End Date)	Total Planned Spending for All Federal Partners for 2010–11
$3,601.1M from 2003-04 to 2013-14 ($26.6M ongoing)**	$72.3M

**Note: The total federal funding allocation includes funding for AAFC ($2,887.3M), CFIA ($633.5M plus $26.6M ongoing), Health Canada ($72.4M) and PHAC ($7.9M). A table outlining planned spending for AAFC is not included in the RPP as their resources sunsetted in 2008-09.

17. Results to be achieved by non-federal partners (if applicable): N/A
18. Contact information:
Colleen Barnes
Executive Director
Domestic Policy Directorate
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
613-773-5901

OR

Helen Hayes
Director
Program Policy Integration Division
Canadian Food Inspection Agency\
613-773-5879

3.1.2.2 National Aquatic Animal Health Program

1. Name of Horizontal Initiative: National Aquatic Animal Health Program (NAAHP)

2. Name of lead department(s): Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO)

3. Lead department program activity: Animal Health Risks and Production Systems (CFIA); Diagnostics and Research on Aquatic Animal Health (DFO)

4. Start date of the Horizontal Initiative: April 1, 2005

5. End date of the Horizontal Initiative: Ongoing

6. Total federal funding allocation (start to end date): $59.0M (2005-06 to 2009-10) plus $10.3M ongoing

7. Description of the Horizontal Initiative (including funding agreement):
The NAAHP goal is to protect Canada's aquatic animals resources and productivity by minimizing the risk of the harmful effects of diseases and by maintaining the seafood industry's competitiveness in international markets. This is in line with the Government of Canada's priority to protect the natural resources of Canada and economic stability. The Agency's priority in this area is a safe and sustainable animal aquatic resource base.

8. Shared Outcome(s):Sustainable Aquatic Resource Productivity and Internationally Competitive Aquatic Animal Resource Base Industry, which will allow trade to continue and expand.

9. Governance structure(s):The CFIA is the federal lead for delivery of the NAAHP. Respective federal roles and responsibilities are outlined in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The Resource Management Oversight Committee is the horizontal steering committee responsible for monitoring the financial governance within the CFIA budget. An Executive Steering Committee at the Assistant Deputy Minister (ADM) level from both organizations, is responsible for the strategic direction, monitoring and analysis of the NAAHP implementation. At the Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FPT) level, the Canadian Council of Fisheries and Aquaculture Ministers (CCFAM) has oversight over the program through a working group with the CFIA. There is also an industry / FPT advisory board that meets annually to guide the development of the program.

10. Planning Highlights: Specific regulations related to reportable diseases and import controls (effective March 2011) will be published in Canada Gazette Part II in the spring of 2010 if consultation does not result in change of plans. Once published diseases are reportable, a surveillance system will be in place and serious disease incursions will be investigated. These regulations are under the Health of Animals Act. Other initiatives include development of disease response plans and MOUs with the provinces on disease response.

11. Federal Partner: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)

12. Federal Partner Program Activity	13. Names of Programs for Federal Partners	14. Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	15. Planned Spending for 2010–11	16. Expected Results for 2010–11
Animal Health Risks and Production Systems	National Aquatic Animal Health Programs	$32.1M over 5 years (plus $6.3M ongoing)	$6.3M	Products exported from Canada meet requirements imposed by foreign countries. Protection of the NAAH System. Develop and establish an import system for products meeting Canadian standards.
Total		$32.1M	$6.3M

16. Expected Results:
Name of Program: National Aquatic Animal Health Program

Outcome 1: Products exported from Canada meet requirements imposed by foreign countries. Output/Activities: Developing and certifying export certificates based on importing country requirements, development of training modules for inspection and certification of aquatic animals, increase training of Animal Health operational staff to deliver the program, analysis and publication of domestic disease status, and negotiate based on OIE standards to open new markets.
Indictor: Time taken to issue aquatic animal certificate.
Target: TBD*

Outcome 2: Protection of the NAAH System Output/Activities: A database system that captures information reported by the industry, provinces and laboratories on reportable and notifiable diseases. Initially the determination of whether the report requires further inspection will be made in the program division. Training will be required for aquatic animal inspection and sample submission.
Indicator: Implementation of the Disease Reporting and Response infrastructure.
Target: 95% are triaged for disease reporting.

Outcome 3 : Develop and establish an import system for products meeting Canadian standards Output/Activities: Adapt the Automated Import Requirement System (AIRS) to accommodate live aquatic species. AIRS is a public internet interface for importers and will require a radical restructuring with creation of new international import codes. Training of Canada Border Services Agency, importers and CFIA delivery staff will be required in order to perform live animal and facility inspections and to develop import health conditions based on country of origin risk assessments.
Indicator: CFIA AIRS system is ready and sufficient staff are trained.
Target: System is 100% ready for implementation and an adequate number of staff are trained to use it.

* Note: The target will be determined once the program is ready for implementation, and will therefore be established for the 2010-11 Performance Report.

11. Federal Partner: Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO)

12. Federal Partner Program Activity	13. Names of Programs for Federal Partners	14. Total Allocation (from Start to End Date)	15. Planned Spending for 2010–11	16. Expected Results for 2010–11
Diagnostics and Research on Aquatic Animal Health	National Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory System (NAAHLS)	$26.9M over 5 years (plus $4.0M ongoing)	$4.0M	Diagnostic tests validated to OIE requirements Operational Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) Amendment of the Fish Health Protection Regulations (FHPR) Capacity for diagnostic testing
Total		$26.9M over 5 years (plus $4.0M ongoing)	$4.0M

16. Expected Results:

Name of Program: National Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory System (NAAHLS)
Outcome 1: Diagnostic tests validated to OIE requirements
Output/Activities:  Ongoing development and validation of diagnostic tests required to support NAAHP program activities. Laboratory standards and tracking systems meet international requirements for audit/challenge of export certificates and/or import controls International Standards Organization 17025, the main standard used by testing and calibration laboratories. Priority disease list established collaboratively with the CFIA.
Indicator: Validated test methods incorporated into NAAHLS diagnostic repertoire for the priority disease.
Target: End of Fiscal Year 2010-11

Outcome 2: Operational Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS)
Output/Activities: Continued development of the LIMS.
Indicator:LIMS is operational.
Target: April 2011

Outcome 3: Fish Health Protection Regulations (FHPR) amended and then ultimately rescinded Output/Activities: Work collaboratively with the CFIA on a transition framework for moving from the FHPR to the authorities under amended Health of Animals Regulations (HAR) when they come into force. Indicator: FHPR is rescinded.
Target: End of Fiscal Year 2010-11

Outcome 4: Ensure adequate capacity for diagnostic testing Output/Activities:  In collaboration with the CFIA, establish a network of third party testing laboratories in support of NAAHP program activities.
Indicator: Network of approved provincial, territorial and private laboratories providing specific diagnostic services
Target: End of Fiscal Year 2010-11 

Total Allocation For All Federal Partners (from Start to End Date)	Total Planned Spending for All Federal Partners for 2010–11
$59.0M ($10.3M ongoing)	$10.3M

17. Results to be achieved by non-federal partners (if applicable): Controlling aquatic animal diseases

18. Contact information:

CFIA - Dr. Carolyn Inch (613) 221-4757
DFO Stephen Stephen (613) 990-0292

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