Canada is taking a major step in safeguarding its livestock sector by establishing a dedicated foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine bank. This initiative enhances the country’s existing defense mechanisms and provides an additional tool to manage and eradicate FMD outbreaks should they occur.

“Today’s announcement highlights our continued commitment to enhancing Canada’s animal disease preparedness and prevention plans. Securing our own supply of FMD emergency vaccines will not only help reduce the spread during a potential outbreak but also help protect the livelihood of Canadian farmers by minimizing the impact on international trade,” explained Paul MacKinnon, President, Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

In a competitive procurement process, Public Services and Procurement Canada, acting on behalf of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, has awarded contracts to Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health and Biogénesis Bagó SA. These companies will supply a range of vaccine products and collaborate on the creation of Canada’s very first FMD vaccine bank. This new vaccine bank will supplement the country’s access to vaccines through the North American Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank, ensuring swift availability for Canadian livestock producers.

“Establishing a dedicated FMD vaccine bank is a vital tool in safeguarding the health of our livestock, market access and the future of our industry. CFIA’s announcement marks a key milestone towards our shared goal of strengthening Canada’s preparedness against the threat of foot-and-mouth disease. We will continue to work with governments and stakeholders to ensure Canada has a robust emergency preparedness and prevention strategy against FMD,” expressed Tyler Fulton, President, Canadian Cattle Association.

FMD is a highly contagious disease that poses a serious threat to cattle, sheep, swine, and other cloven-hoofed animals. It causes painful blisters, making it difficult for animals to eat, walk, and produce milk, resulting in weakened, sick animals.

“The FMD vaccine bank is an important investment in protecting Canadian livestock and livestock producers from this disease. The federal government’s support is further proof the cooperative relationship between government and industry in Canada works for producers and processors from coast to coast. We look forward to continuing this partnership on other challenges together,” said René Roy, Chair, Canadian Pork Council.

Building this Canadian FMD vaccine bank is a critical step in preparedness efforts to protect both the animals and the agricultural industry. With a readily available supply of emergency vaccines, Canada will be better equipped to manage outbreaks, potentially reducing the spread and duration of the disease.

“Today’s announcement is a welcome and pivotal step towards enhancing existing industry defenses, offering producers another critical tool to minimize the impact and return Canada back to ‘FMD-free’ status in the event of an outbreak. This is vital for protecting animal health and farm sustainability, contributing to a safe, reliable, and consistent food supply for Canadians,” conveyed David Wiens, President, Dairy Farmers of Canada.

The success of these initiatives is due to the strong collaboration between Canada’s federal, provincial, and territorial governments, as well as various stakeholders. Together, these efforts, along with Canada’s strict import regulations, on-farm biosecurity protocols, and ongoing disease surveillance, continue to safeguard the health of Canadian livestock and support the economic stability of the country’s agricultural communities.