Canada's BSE Surveillance Program was updated in March 2025 to align with updated international standards set by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH). These standards reflect a dramatic global decline in classical BSE cases.
Cattle producers play a key role in this program. Canada must demonstrate to WOAH and trading partners that it can identify cattle for BSE testing. This supports access to international markets and helps producers continue to sell their products.
What has changed
Under the updated BSE Surveillance Program:
- cattle that meet the criteria for BSE testing are classified as BSE surveillance candidates (not suspects)
- if a sampled carcass is disposed of on farm, it does not need to be held while waiting for laboratory test results
- the payment amounts for eligible services have been updated
- if a case was confirmed, birth and feed cohorts would not be traced or ordered destroyed, and Canada would not automatically lose its official negligible BSE risk status.
Learn more about the CFIA's updated BSE response plan.
When should you consider the program
You may consider participating if you have a bovine in your herd that is alive and showing behavioural changes, or if the animal showed such changes before becoming non-ambulatory or dying. Such an animal may qualify as a BSE surveillance candidate.
How to participate
Option 1: With veterinarian involvement
While at your farm, the veterinarian uses the dedicated BSE surveillance questionnaire to check if the observed bovine meets the criteria to be classified as a BSE surveillance candidate.
If it qualifies, a unique identifier (UID) is automatically generated and a brain sample for BSE testing is needed.
For this, the veterinarian may euthanize the bovine (if still alive) and either:
- collect the required brain sample and ensure it is sent to the BSE laboratory (the carcass may be disposed of on farm), or
- refer the animal for a necropsy at a pathology laboratory, where the brain sample will be collected.
The candidate's UID must be included on the referral form.
Option 2: Without veterinarian involvement
You use the BSE surveillance questionnaire to check if the observed bovine meets the criteria to be classified as a BSE surveillance candidate.
If it qualifies, a UID is automatically generated and a brain sample for BSE testing is needed.
For this, you may euthanize the bovine (if still alive) and either:
- request carcass pick-up by a deadstock collector, ensuring you forward the email to the deadstock collector confirming the UID, or
- if permitted without a veterinary referral in your province, take the animal to a pathology laboratory for necropsy.
The candidate's UID must be included on the necropsy submission form.
Invoicing the CFIA
Applicable payment amounts vary depending on who is invoicing the CFIA (veterinarian, producer or deadstock collector) and the type of service provided.
Payments are available only when a valid UID is associated with the animal.
Veterinary consultation and mileage
If the animal is a BSE surveillance candidate and has a UID, the veterinarian may invoice us for the consultation and mileage up to the applicable amounts.
If the animal does not qualify as a surveillance candidate, the CFIA cannot be invoiced.
Transport for post-mortem examination
If the animal is sent to a necropsy room, where the brain sample for BSE testing can be collected, you may invoice us for transport up to the applicable amounts. A valid UID must be included in both the necropsy submission form and the invoice.
The cost of the post-mortem itself is not covered by the CFIA.
If the bovine is sampled on-farm and then transported to the necropsy room, the CFIA cannot be invoiced.
Deadstock pick-up
If the carcass is picked up by a deadstock collector service, the collector may invoice us directly up to the applicable amount.
A valid UID must be provided to the deadstock collector.
If the bovine is sampled on-farm and then picked up by the deadstock collector, the CFIA cannot be invoiced.