Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Programs

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Overview of the programs

The Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Programs allow cervid owners and farm operators to demonstrate that they are taking preventive measures against chronic wasting disease (CWD). Program participation is voluntary and requires engaging in rigorous CWD surveillance and biosecurity measures. Enrolled herds are identified as participants in Canada's domestic CWD compartment program.

Requirements are defined in the national standards, which are developed and maintained by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). CFIA-accredited veterinarians supervise the activities. Provincial, territorial or industry organizations oversee and administer the programs. The CFIA audits the administering organizations. Herds of any cervids of the family Cervidae can participate in a CWD Herd Certification Program.

Decrease a herd's risk of chronic wasting disease

There are six levels in a herd certification program, with the highest level being certified. A herd must be enrolled in a program for a minimum of 5 years to reach the certified level. Because there is not a sensitive live animal test for CWD, a certified herd cannot be considered CWD free The programs provide cervid owners and farm operators a reasonable level of assurance of their herds' CWD risk level when purchasing cervids from a herd enrolled at an equal or higher level.

Meaning of the term compartment

A compartment is a group of animals with a distinct health status based on biosecurity management and husbandry practices. Herds enrolled in a program at level D or higher are considered a compartment of lower-risk animals for CWD in Canada. The World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH) recognizes the concept of compartmentalization.

Program elements

The CWD Herd Certification Programs use biosecurity management practices to decrease the risk of CWD being introduced into a herd. Given that CWD is difficult to detect and impossible to treat, biosecurity is the most effective tool for cervid producers to keep CWD out of their herds. For more information on diagnosis of and testing for CWD, see Chronic wasting disease of deer and elk.

The programs also have rigorous surveillance requirements that provide early detection in cases where a herd is infected.

Regular review of the national standards

The national standards for the CWD Herd Certification Programs are reviewed on a regular basis. The National Standards Review Panel works together to modify and update the national standards as needed. The National Standards Review Panel consists of the CFIA, industry representatives and program administrators.

Herds enrolled in the Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Programs

4 pillars of the programs

The CWD Herd Certification Programs are built upon 4 pillars:

  • maintaining complete and accurate inventory records
  • ongoing testing of all slaughtered and dead cervids
  • limiting herd introductions to cervids enrolled in an equal or higher program level
  • CWD biosecurity measures

Participation is not mandatory

Cervid owners and farm operators are not required to participate in a program. However, once a herd is enrolled, owners and operators must comply with all requirements.

Benefits of enrolment

The programs requirements are designed to allow cervid owners and farm operators to:

  • prevent the introduction of CWD
  • detect CWD early in the rare instance a herd becomes infected
  • be considered for the CFIA's compartment CWD response, if eligible, if CWD is found in their herd

Enrolment also increases market access as some cervid export requirements are based on CWD Herd Certification Program enrolment.

If a herd gets chronic wasting disease while enrolled in the program

In the event of a positive case, only herds that are participating in a CWD Herd Certification Program can be considered for the CFIA's CWD compartment disease response. In order to be eligible, herds must be in compliance with the national standards and enrolled at level D or higher. Learn more about compensation and disease response:

Herds not participating will not be considered for CFIA's CWD compartment response or associated compensation.

Enrollment costs

Costs include:

  • regional administrator's annual fee
  • laboratory fees for CWD testing
  • accredited veterinarian service fees

Fees vary regionally. Contact your regional administrator for more information.

Contact information for regional administrators and status assessors

Third-party delivery

A shared responsibility

The CWD Herd Certification Programs are delivered and implemented through co-operation between:

  • cervid owners and farm operators
  • accredited veterinarians
  • regional administrators
  • regional status assessors
  • the Canadian Food Inspection Agency

The roles and responsibilities of each participant are detailed in the national standards.

CFIA's role

CFIA is the national administrator of the programs, responsible for:

  • ensuring integrity and international recognition
  • developing and maintaining the national standards
  • evaluating domestic and foreign programs for equivalency
  • auditing domestic programs
  • overseeing CFIA-approved laboratories that test for CWD
  • training and overseeing accredited veterinarians

Regional Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Programs in Canada

The regional programs are administered independently from the CFIA. There are 3 regional programs in Canada.

Regional administrator's role

There are 3 regional administrators in Canada:

  • Alberta Agriculture and Irrigation
  • Canadian Sheep Federation
  • Yukon Agriculture Branch

The regional administrator is responsible for:

  • overseeing enrolment in the regional program
  • outlining all policies and procedures in a standard of operating procedures
  • administering enrolment and advancement procedures
  • issuing status certificates
  • training status assessors

Contact information for regional administrators and status assessors

Status assessor's role

Each regional program has a status assessor, who determines if all requirements have been met before a herd is enrolled in the program. Assessors also annually verify that requirements are still being met. If the assessor finds requirements are not being met, they must suspend or revoke the herd's status.

Contact information for regional administrators and status assessors

Cervid owners' and farm operators' responsibilities

Cervid owners and farm operators are responsible for meeting program requirements. They work with accredited veterinarians and approved third parties (such as provincial and territorial staff of the game farm department and animal health technicians) to complete these program elements:

  • reconciling inventories
  • inspecting premises (including fences)
  • monitoring herd health
  • developing an environmental biosecurity plan
  • collecting and submitting samples

Accredited veterinarians

Accredited veterinarian's role

The accredited veterinarian's role is very important to the programs. They are responsible for helping cervid owners and farm operators to understand the scientific basis for program requirements and how to implement them.

Accredited veterinarians are also responsible for:

  • inspecting premises to verify implementation of the biosecurity plan
  • inspecting herds to verify absence of any clinical signs of CWD
  • performing cervid inventories
  • verifying the reconciliation of inventories

Find an accredited veterinarian

To find an accredited veterinarian for the CWD Herd Certification Program function:

  • ask your herd veterinarian if they are accredited by the CFIA for this function or are interested in providing this service
  • contact local veterinary clinics to see if any of the clinic's veterinarians are accredited by the CFIA for this function or are interested in providing this service
  • contact your local CFIA Animal Health District Office to find out if there are veterinarians accredited by the CFIA for this function in your area

Become accredited

Any veterinarian can become accredited by the CFIA for the CWD Herd Certification Programs function as long as they meet the requirements outlined in the Accredited Veterinarian's Manual. Veterinarians can get more information by contacting their Animal Health District Office.

Federal regulations for farmed cervids

Contact your local CFIA Animal Health District Office to learn about the federal regulations Canadian cervid producers must follow, including movement permits and identification requirements.

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