Canada's National Standards for African Swine Fever Compartments

Canada's National Standards for African Swine Fever Compartments (PDF – 520 kb)

Introduction

The national requirements that set the foundations for the Canadian African swine fever (ASF) Compartment Program, a program that the Canadian Pork Council (CPC) agrees to administer and producers and companies may choose to join, are detailed across 2 documents:

National Standards

The National Standards detail requirements the CPC's ASF Compartment Operator Program (COP) must meet, should the CPC voluntarily decide to apply to and be part of the program, and against which the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will assess the COP prior to approval.

National Framework

The framework document details all of the requirements for the administration and implementation of an ASF compartment program by the stakeholders that choose to participate. Examples of requirements found in the framework document include (but are not limited to):

roles and responsibilities of the various parties that consent to be involved in an ASF compartment program
procedural administrative requirements related to application to the program, acceptance into the program, suspension, revocation and appeals
compliance verification requirements such as credentials of third parties involved in the program, frequencies and nature of audits as well as required documentation
procedural steps and timelines for applications

The participating parties agree that the CFIA's recognition and endorsement of the Canadian ASF Compartment Program, both domestically and internationally for disease control purposes and trade purposes, is predicated upon the parties meeting all the requirements of the national standards and the framework.

The national standards and framework requirements will be reviewed at a minimum annually, or sooner as required based on new scientific information, international guidelines, or by the consensus of a review panel.

A review panel will include representatives from the CFIA, compartment program administrators and representatives of persons or companies involved in the implementation of an ASF compartment.

The third component, the CPC's COP, completes the suite of requirements necessary for the Canadian ASF Compartment Program. This component will be mentioned but, as it is not 1 of the foundational elements, it will not be discussed in this document. However, once compartment operators are enrolled in the Canadian ASF Compartment Program, their compliance with the national standards, the framework, and the COP is mandatory if they wish to continue in the program.

1. General

1.1 Indoor pigs

These national standards are only applicable to facilities that exclusively raise pigs indoors.

1.2 Definition of a Compartment

The compartment is a sub-population of pigs meeting all requirements outlined in the National Standards and Compartment Operator Program rather than the physical infrastructure used to house, transport or slaughter/process pigs.

Inputs to the compartment (for example, feed, semen, etc.) must meet all biosecurity requirements.

Outputs of the compartment include live animals, meat, meat products and genetic material sourced from compartment pigs. While transitioning between premises, compartment pigs do not "leave the compartment". Vehicles move "on to" or "off of" premises housing compartment pigs. Compartment pigs move to slaughter in an abattoir and become outputs of the compartment but do not "leave the compartment".

2. Biosecurity

The biosecurity standards that follow apply to all premises identification (PID) sites registered or enrolled for a compartment and associated facilities unless specified otherwise.

2.1 Live pigs

2.1.1 Live pigs from a source other than a compartment must be moved to and housed in a dedicated building on a compartment premises or at another premises for a pre-compartment quarantine.

Signage must be posted that clearly identifies the boundaries of the pre-compartment quarantine so that physical and biosecurity barriers and requirements make the pre-compartment quarantine population physically and functionally a completely separate subpopulation from the compartment subpopulation such that if ASF is detected in the quarantine pigs there is no cross contamination of the compartment pigs. Physical and biosecurity barriers and requirements must be implemented at all times when pigs are present in the pre-compartment quarantine.
The operation of the pre-compartment quarantine must meet the management and operational requirements of the compartment detailed in these standards
Pigs that move out of the pre-compartment quarantine and become part of the compartment subpopulation as well as any people or things that enter a premises where compartment pigs reside must meet the requirements for entry into the compartment (further defined below in these standards)
If pigs are undergoing pre-compartment quarantine on a non-compartment premises, once released from quarantine, they must be moved directly from the quarantine premises to a compartment premises avoiding any potential for exposure to non-compartment pigs

2.1.2 All live pigs from a source other than a compartment must be subject to antigen detection and serological testing 21 days or more after the start of the pre-compartment quarantine. No pig can be released from quarantine into the compartment until test results for all pigs are confirmed negative. During the 21 days prior to testing no live pig can be added to the pre-compartment quarantine pig population.

2.1.3 Any pig that dies prior to sample collection must be tested for ASF.

2.2 Semen and semen collection centres

2.2.1 Semen used to inseminate pigs in a compartment must be sourced from boars that are part of an approved compartment subpopulation at time of collection.

2.2.2 Semen used to inseminate pigs in a compartment coming from another country not infected with ASF must come from a premises / collection center that has put in place measures equivalent to a Canadian compartment for at least 90 days prior to the collection of that semen.

2.2.3 Semen used to inseminate pigs in a compartment coming from a country with ASF must come from a compartment officially recognized by the competent authority of the country of origin and whose compartment program is officially recognized by Canada.

2.3 Embryos

2.3.1 Porcine embryo donors must be part of an approved compartment subpopulation at time of collection.

2.4 Water supply

2.4.1 If the water for the compartment is sourced from a drilled well, the wellhead must be raised above the level of the surrounding land and the land around the wellhead must be graded so that it slopes down and away.

2.4.2 If the water for the compartment is sourced from a hand dug well or surface water, the water must be subject to a treatment that is approved by CFIA. All conditions and regular maintenance that are necessary to ensure the efficacy of the treatment must be put in place. Regular monitoring appropriate for the specific treatment being used must be undertaken (for example, daily monitoring of chlorine levels).

2.5 Building requirements

2.5.1 Each compartment premises must establish a controlled access zone (CAZ) and a restricted access zone (RAZ). The compartment must have signage that indicates the boundaries of the CAZ.

2.5.2 Entry to the RAZ must include a Danish entry.

2.5.3 Pigs within the compartment must be housed in fully enclosed buildings with perimeter walls on hard, constructed slab or slatted floors and a solid ceiling.

2.5.4 All points of ingress and egress from buildings in the CAZ and the RAZ must have solid doors with locking capabilities.

2.5.5 External doors in the CAZ and the RAZ must be locked to prevent unauthorized access and barn personnel can be contacted at all times (for example, ringing bell, phone, etc.).

2.6 Feed

2.6.1 Within the compartment, feed and feed ingredients stored outside of a structure must be contained in completely enclosed storage containers such that feed would not be accessible to wild swine.

2.6.2 Compartments are only permitted to feed approved ingredients and feeds that are compliant with the Feeds Act and regulations.

2.6.3 Any feed brought into the compartment must not contain any ingredient of porcine origin as part of their formulation, other than highly processed vitamins and minerals. Feed mills supplying a compartment must prevent cross contamination between a compartment feed and any feed with ingredients of porcine or unknown origin; flushing and sequencing may be used.

2.6.4 A compartment must perform and submit a risk assessment in accordance with the entry and exposure assessments detailed in Article 2.1.4. of the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) Terrestrial Animal Health Code, as part of their initial application. This assessment must identify all bulk feed ingredients that may be used in the compartment and identify the pathways that could pose a risk of introduction of the ASF virus. The risk assessment must consider that the compartment will withstand the risk pressure of ASF being present in either domestic or wild swine populations in Canada (or both) without any changes to risk mitigation measures. The assessment must detail risk mitigation measures for each risk pathway identified such that the overall conclusion is that the feed supply to the compartment presents a very low or negligible risk of introduction of the ASF virus. Where possible, the risk mitigation measures should be supported by published science. Records must be maintained to verify compliance with critical control points implemented for risk mitigation of feed. Examples of risk pathways and risk mitigation measures and further discussion of how this assessment may be approached will be available to the person performing the risk assessment for the compartment.

2.6.5 If organic bedding such as straw, wood or paper shavings are used in the RAZ an assessment of the risk of ASF introduction by ingestion of these products should be included in the feed plan. Bedding used in trailers moving live pigs does not have to be included in the assessment.

2.7 Vehicles

2.7.1 Parking for staff vehicles and visitors must be located outside of the CAZ.

2.7.2 The compartment must have a well-marked central repository outside of the CAZ for all service providers to deposit documentation (invoices for deliveries such as feed, propane, etc.) in order to avoid service providers' vehicles approaching the RAZ.

2.7.3 Swine transport vehicles must be cleaned, disinfected and dried prior to entering a premises housing compartment pigs (does not include going within or between sites housing compartment pigs).

2.7.4 The cleaning and disinfection steps applied to swine transport vehicles entering or re-entering a premises housing compartment pigs must have verification measures that are subject to an external audit.

2.7.5 Drivers of live pig transport vehicles are not permitted to enter the RAZ associated with the building structures of the compartment without following established protocols for entry of people and must put on clean, dry boots or disposable boots and clean clothing before stepping into the swine transport trailer.

2.7.6 Non-compartment pigs must not be loaded on a transport vehicle containing compartment pigs. Vehicles transporting compartment pigs for slaughter may only go to another site housing compartment pigs prior to going directly to a processing establishment.

2.8 People

2.8.1 Compartment employees not residing on the premises must not raise or keep any pigs at their site of residence or work on premises with non compartment pigs.

2.8.2 Compartment employees may not have contact with wild boar including hunting them or dressing hunted carcasses.

2.8.3 All persons entering the CAZ must don clean or dedicated footwear (including, but not limited to, boot covers).

2.8.4 All persons entering the RAZ must use a Danish entry.

2.8.5 All visitors are made aware of the entry measures prior to arrival. Visitors entering the RAZ must be met and accompanied by someone that knows all biosecurity protocols for the site prior to entry.

2.8.6 A log book must be kept on-site that records all visitors entering the RAZ.

2.8.7 There must be measures in place to prevent entry of any pork products (such as dried, cured, raw) at the entrance of the RAZ.

2.9 Equipment

2.9.1 Unless otherwise specifically mentioned in these standards, all equipment entering the RAZ must be clean and disinfected, including tools and equipment brought on site by any service providers.

2.9.2 All equipment (other than the trailer and components integrated into the trailer) used to wash/disinfect the RAZ should be either dedicated to the compartment or managed in a way to prevent the potential contamination with organic and biological (viral) material that did not come from the premises housing compartment pigs.

2.9.3 Bedding removal equipment (examples include tractor, skid steer) must be dedicated to the compartment, and cleaned and disinfected prior to entering the RAZ.

2.10 Deadstock

2.10.1 Each premises in the compartment must have a deadstock pickup site/bin/container for deadstock located outside the CAZ (or on the delimiting line of the CAZ), or there must be a separate CAZ defined for deadstock pickup.

2.10.2 In any circumstances, the deadstock pickup site on each premises of the compartment must be at a minimum distance of 30 metres from the RAZ.

2.10.3 The deadstock receptacle used by each premises of the compartment must be leak-proof and enclosed or covered other than when empty or being loaded or unloaded in order to prevent access by scavengers.

2.10.4 The deadstock pickup vehicle servicing any premises of a compartment must not contain any non-compartment pigs (or tissues of non-compartment pigs) when collecting deadstock from any part of the compartment

2.10.5 The compartment must have either of the following:

Dedicated equipment in which the deadstock is stored and transported to other sites for disposal
Specific routes within the CAZ to the deadstock pickup site to avoid cross contamination with other equipment used within the CAZ; a route dedicated for the deadstock pickup service to approach the deadstock pickup site; and a written agreement with the deadstock pickup service to have no pickups from non-compartment premises prior to servicing a compartment site on the same day
If deadstock is composted or incinerated, it must be managed in a way that prevents the attraction of scavengers (especially wild pigs) and pests until disposal of the end product

2.11 Manure

2.11.1 Manure generated from non-compartment pigs must not be brought onto and spread on any land that is included on the site plan submitted in the compartment application.

2.11.2 All equipment associated with the handling/pickup/transportation of manure generated on the compartment premises, including the truck, pump, etc. must be cleaned and disinfected prior to entering a premises housing compartment pigs.

2.12 Emergency plan

2.12.1 In the application to become a compartment, the compartment operator must include a description of an emergency plan that identifies how each premises will deal with the occurrence of an unexpected event threatening the integrity of the compartment (such as malfunctions in electrical, ventilation, water supply, natural disasters), including an action plan to address any biosecurity breaches that have occurred in addressing such situations.

3. Surveillance

3.1 General considerations

3.1.1 The national ASF surveillance plan is the surveillance undertaken to support the official ASF status of Canada and is the responsibility of the competent veterinary authority (CFIA).

3.1.2 A surveillance plan describing internal and external surveillance components specific to the compartment must be developed by an epidemiologist or someone with knowledge of swine production and health using an epidemiological approach. The surveillance plan must address 2 objectives: early detection of ASF and ongoing assertion of the compartment's freedom from ASF. Furthermore, the internal surveillance plan must include at least the following components:

Threshold-based mortality surveillance
Enhanced passive surveillance

External surveillance components of a compartment's surveillance plan are surveillance activities that are conducted outside of the compartment. The national ASF surveillance plan usually comprises part, if not all, of the compartment's external surveillance components. In the event that the epidemiological context of a compartment requires the implementation of external surveillance components that are not already part of the national ASF surveillance plan (for example, ASF surveillance in soft ticks), additional costs that the compartment may incur to implement such surveillance should be taken into consideration, and respective roles and responsibilities should be appropriately identified and documented.

Since the compartment swine population is part of the national swine population, samples taken within a compartment and submitted under a surveillance component of the national ASF surveillance plan (for example, CanSpotASF laboratory-approved testing) can be reported under both the compartment surveillance and the national surveillance plans. However, it is required that these samples be easily identified as samples that originate from within a compartment. For the purposes of reporting and assessing compartment surveillance performance, compartments will need to be able to report their own internal components separately from CanSpotASF as a whole.

In areas where there is an overlap of applicability between internal compartment surveillance and CanSpotASF, compartment operators should be expected to pay for surveillance under CanSpotASF that exceeds an agreed upon baseline. It is the responsibility of the compartment operators, the implicated province and the Canadian Animal Health Surveillance Network laboratory to discuss funding and logistics for the testing.

3.1.3 The initial epidemiological analysis must establish/calculate the sensitivity of the overall internal surveillance plan whether it contains a single or multiple components so that the surveillance sensitivity reaches at least 95%, that is to say a minimum 95% probability of detecting at least 1 positive pig within 14 days if the ASF virus is introduced in the compartment. The time to detection represents the period starting when the disease was introduced to the time the diagnostic sample is taken from the infected pig. This analysis must be submitted in the surveillance plan included in the initial compartment application.

3.1.4 Any change to a surveillance plan for a compartment must be verified by an epidemiologist or someone with knowledge of swine production and health using sound epidemiological methods and must continue to meet the outcome based requirements for the internal surveillance plan mentioned in these national standards. The administrator and the CFIA must be notified and jointly approve the change prior to the updated surveillance plan being implemented.

3.1.5 All non-negative samples must undergo confirmatory testing by the CFIA until ASF can be confidently excluded or confirmed.

3.1.6 Note: The loss or destruction of a tissue or blood sample that is no longer in the control of the compartment owner/operator (for example, by a courier or laboratory) must be documented, and this documentation must be presented during an audit. If adequately documented, the administrator will not consider the compartment to be non-compliant in these situations and thus they will not affect the assessment of the compartment's status.

3.2 Threshold-based mortality surveillance

3.2.1 For the purpose of substantiating a representative baseline mortality rate, swine groups from different life stages (reproductive boar, reproductive sow, market hog) and/or production stages (piglet, feeder/weaner, grower, finisher) housed in separate health units must be considered independently. A health unit can be defined as a pen, room or barn.

3.2.2 The compartment must establish and maintain a baseline daily mortality rate for each health unit. The baseline mortality rate includes mortalities from any cause.

3.2.3 The compartment surveillance plan must use the baseline mortality rate to inform the mortality sampling threshold (in other words, the number of pigs dying during an observational time period) in each specific health unit within the compartment. In lactating areas, a separate mortality threshold must be established for sows and piglets.

3.2.4 During each and every individual seven-day observational time period where the established mortality threshold is met in a given health unit, the first and second pigs that die beyond the threshold must be sampled and tested for ASF.

3.3 Enhanced passive surveillance

3.3.1 If pigs in a health unit demonstrate clinical signs or post-mortem findings considered unusual or unexpected by the attending veterinarian but for which ASF is not suspected, 2 pigs must be sampled (ante-mortem or post-mortem) and the samples submitted to a laboratory for testing as soon as possible but no more than 7 days after collection. This includes:

any pig with multi-organ hemorrhagic lesions
any pig that died suddenly and for which the probable cause of death is not determined on gross postmortem examination

4. Traceability

4.1 Surveillance samples and their associated ASF test results must be traceable back to the health unit of origin for which a mortality threshold was established and for which the threshold was surpassed. The date of sampling must be recorded in order to reconcile with the observation period during which the mortality threshold was surpassed.

4.2 Within 48 hours of receipt of a pig from a premises with a PID number, the compartment must report the following information to PigTrace:

the PID number of the departure site and of the destination site
the date and time that the conveyance carrying the pig(s) arrived at the destination site
the number of pigs and pig carcasses unloaded
the licence plate number or, if there is no licence plate, other identification of the conveyance

4.3 Within 48 hours of sending a pig from a PID number within the compartment to another premises within the compartment with a different PID number, the compartment must report the following information to PigTrace:

the PID number of the departure site and of the destination site
the date and time that the conveyance carrying the pig(s) arrived at the destination site
the number of pigs loaded
the identification number on any approved tag applied to the pigs; and
the licence plate number or, if there is no licence plate, other identification of the conveyance

5. Traceability and prevention of contamination during processing

Establishments that are dedicated to processing only pigs from ASF compartments are required to comply with standards 5.1, 5.2, 5.3, and 5.16 listed below. Establishments processing non-compartment pigs and pigs from ASF compartments must meet all of the standards listed below.

5.1 All establishments receiving compartment pigs must have a mechanism in place to prevent entry of any unscheduled transport vehicles containing non-compartment pigs onto the premises.

5.2 When scheduling compartment pigs for slaughter and processing, the establishment must:

verify that the herd mark of the premises of origin/pigs is associated with an approved ASF compartment; and
schedule the shipment from an ASF compartment for a day and time when compartment pigs will be received and processed at the establishment

5.3 Upon arrival at the establishment's guardhouse or gate, the driver must be able to provide confirmation that the pigs in that transport vehicle are from an approved compartment.

5.4 At live receiving, a designated employee must:

verify that the herd mark(s) on the pigs in the transport vehicle or on the shipping manifest are associated with an approved ASF compartment
direct the transport driver to the appropriate door for unloading compartment pigs
direct receiving staff as to which pens the live compartment pigs are to be housed in

5.5 Compartment pigs must be slaughtered within 36 hours of arriving at the establishment.

5.6 If live non-compartment pigs are present on the establishment premises at the same time as live compartment pigs, then the herd mark tattoos must be verified on every compartment pig following slaughter.

5.7 In establishments that employ a scalding tank and a carcass surface singe, all visible organic material must be removed from the parts of the establishment housing/channeling live pigs prior to the entry of compartment pigs.

5.8 Establishments that do not employ a scalding tank and carcass surface singe must complete a full cleaning and disinfection of the parts of the establishment housing/channeling live pigs prior to commencing the receipt of compartment pigs.

5.9 All people working in areas of the establishment where live pigs are present must don clean outer wear and cleaned and disinfected footwear prior to conducting work with compartment pigs.

5.10 Live non-compartment pigs must not be present in any part of the establishment where live compartment pigs are present unless separated by a solid physical barrier of a height or nature that pigs cannot jump over. Live compartment pigs must be moved through the entire establishment as a block.

5.11 If 1 or more unfit non-compartment pigs requiring immediate euthanasia for welfare reasons are received at the establishment while compartment pigs are being slaughtered, either:

the non-compartment pig(s) must be humanely euthanized and sent directly to the inedible rendering area; or
the non-compartment pig(s) must be slaughtered in the block of compartment pigs and the entire block of pigs loses its compartment status

5.12 If 1 or more compromised non-compartment pigs are received at the establishment while compartment pigs are being slaughtered/processed, either:

the pig is held and monitored in a location physically separated from the compartment pigs until such time as non-compartment pigs are being slaughtered; or
1 of the options listed under the standard for unfit pigs (number 11) is utilized

5.13 Areas of the establishment used for cutting, processing, and packaging must be cleaned and disinfected prior to receiving compartment pigs/products.

5.14 After stunning and bleeding, the first and last pig of a block of compartment pigs must be identified such that staff can distinguish the block from all blocks of non-compartment carcasses present in the establishment at the same time. Traceability methods must be in place to record information from the first and last carcass in the compartment block that can be cross-referenced and verified with the traceability information collected at the gatehouse, the unloading dock, and the herd mark.

5.15 The carcasses of compartment pigs must be stored as a segregated block in coolers by either:

assigning them to dedicated rails recorded in a manner that processing plant staff can verify the rail as holding compartment pigs; or
by a method that makes them visibly distinct from all blocks of non-compartment carcasses present in the establishment at the same time

5.16 The establishment must have an electronic inventory system that has the ability to print bar code labels, or a system that can provide equivalent traceability on every box of product.

5.17 The establishment must program their inventory/labelling system such that compartment product has an assigned identifier/product code that differentiates it from all non-compartment product.

5.18 All packaged compartment products must be identifiable as such at all times.

5.19 Non-compartment products being held or for rework may not be present in the cutting area prior to compartment carcasses entering the area. Any product that is held or is to be reworked after the compartment carcasses have exited the area is not to be labelled as a compartment product.

5.20 Upon initiation of a block of compartment carcasses entering the cutting area, the employee responsible for the management of the cutting area must verify either through visual or electronic identification that the block of carcasses are compartment carcasses.

5.21 Prior to commencing the cutting of compartment carcasses, the employee responsible for the management of the cutting area must instruct the cutting room staff to switch to printing and applying inventory labels that include the assigned identifier for product of a compartment.

5.22 Inventory labels indicating compartment product can only be applied to containers (boxes/totes) that exclusively contain compartment product.

5.23 Prior to commencing the cutting of non-compartment carcasses, the employee responsible for the management of the cutting area must ensure that the cutting room staff are no longer printing and applying inventory labels that include the assigned identifier for compartment product.

5.24 Storage pallets containing compartment product must not contain non-compartment product.

5.25 Any box of product that has lost all labeling, or for which all labelling has become illegible and for which it is no longer possible to verify that the contents are solely compartment product, can no longer be represented or moved as compartment product.

6. Mandatory revocation / suspension

6.1 A compartment will be revoked from the program if ASF virus is detected in any part of the compartment.

6.2 A compartment will be automatically suspended if it is determined that any compartment premises sub population received non-compartment pigs without following standards 2.1.1, 2.1.2, and 2.1.3 listed above to join the subpopulation.

7. Glossary

In the context of this document, the following words have the corresponding definition.

Bulk feed ingredients: Grains, oilseeds, pulses, and straw used as bedding on the compartment premises. [Ingrédients d'aliments du bétail en vrac]
CAZ: Controlled access zone. [ZAC]
Clean(ed)(ing): Gross organic debris is scraped off/out. Washed with water and detergent such that no organic debris remains visible by the naked eye on any surface. [Nettoyer]
Compartment: A sub-population of pigs meeting all requirements outlined in the National Standards, Framework and Compartment Operator Program. [Compartiments]
Compromised animal: As defined in section 136(1) of the Health of Animals Regulations. [Animal compromis]
Danish entry: An area associated with the entry to the building structure that has at least 2 physical barriers that require physical movement to pass; where clothing and footwear are changed and personal effects can be left (with adequate space to do so); and include a minimum of 2 visual cues that remind people what must be done in the area prior to exiting. [Entrée danoise]
Disinfect(ion)(ed): Application of an agent validated to inactivate ASF at the appropriate concentration for the appropriate amount of time. [Désinfecter (désinfection)]
RAZ: Restricted access zone. [ZAR]
Unfit animal: As defined in section 136(1) of the Health of Animals Regulations. [Animal inapte]
Visible: Able to be seen by the naked eye. [Visible]

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