On this page
- Applicable Canadian regulations
- Summary of the export process
- Transport outcomes (deaths and serious injuries)
- Sources of the horses being exported to Japan
- Additional information about horse meat and live horse exports
Applicable Canadian regulations
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) veterinary inspectors are present for each air shipment to certify the export as required by the Health of Animals Act.
CFIA inspectors work diligently to enforce the Health of Animals Act and regulations, particularly PART XII - Transport of Animals, which governs the humane transport of animals. This includes verifying that horses are fit to travel and are transported humanely. Additionally, the container and stocking density requirements of the Live Animal Regulations of the International Air Transport Association are incorporated by reference into the Health of Animal Regulations and must be met.
Any Canadian exporter who has successfully negotiated a commercial contract with an importer in Japan and who can comply with Japan's import conditions (as specified in an established health certificate) may export horses to Japan. Exporters and carriers must also comply with the humane transport requirements of the Health of Animals Act and regulations.
The CFIA does not have the authority to deny export shipments that comply with Canadian humane transport regulations at the time of export and that meet the animal health requirements of the importing country.
Summary of the export process
On farm
- After exporters have contacted the CFIA in advance, a CFIA veterinarian collects blood samples for lab testing and verifies that pre-export conditions are met
- Exporters assess and remove any animals not fit for transport
- Horses have access to feed and water until loaded for transport to the airport
Ground transport in Canada
- CFIA veterinarians verify compliance with humane transport requirements when the horse transport trucks arrive at the airport
- Most export shipments come from premises that are located within a 2 to 3 hour drive from the departure airport
- Some transporters include rest stops in Canada before departure, as exporters continue to adapt their logistics to support compliance with the 28-hour feed, water and rest interval
Crate and aircraft loading
- Horses are loaded into crates with CFIA veterinary oversight
- Transporters use foam pool noodles and flexible poles with rags on the end to start horses down a ramp into the crates
- Prods are not used and any physical contact with the horses does not inflict pain or suffering
- A visual inspection verifies that the horses can stand in their preferred position and do not come into contact with the container cover when calm but alert
- The crate is weighed to further verify that it is not overcrowded
- CFIA inspectors are on-site when the crates are loaded onto the plane and verify that no horses are down or showing signs of distress that would make the horse unfit for transport
Flight requirements
Most export shipments are flights from Edmonton and Winnipeg. Flights can be non-stop or have a stopover in Alaska which normally adds 2 to 2.5 hours to the travel time.
Canadian requirements for feed, water and rest must also be met during their transport.
- Transporters must have a transport contingency plan which includes anticipated travel times that can be provided to the CFIA.
- The contingency plan must also establish measures to be taken to reduce or mitigate avoidable suffering if
- there are any unforeseen delays or circumstances that could cause avoidable suffering, injury or death
- an animal becomes compromised or unfit
Requirements for feed, water and rest (FWR) during transport
Twenty-eight hours is the maximum time without FWR for horses. Ground transport in Canada, air transport and ground transport in Japan must be completed within 28 hours to comply with Canadian regulations. If horses are provided with the required feed, water and rest during their transport journey, then the 28-hour time would restart.
At destination
- Once in Japan, Japanese authorities are responsible for regulatory oversight
- This includes the off-loading of horses from the aircraft and ground transport to the quarantine station.
- Air carriers must meet the Canadian requirement to report any deaths or serious injuries that occurred during their transport
Transport outcomes (deaths and serious injuries)
The following table provides a summary of reported serious incidents involving horses during transport, up to and including unloading at the airport in Japan.
| Time period | Number of horse deaths | Number of serious injuries in horses | Horses exported |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2024 to June 2025 | 0 | 0 | 2408 |
| July 2023 to June 2024 | 1 | 8 | 3171 |
Note
- Section 155 of the Health of Animals Regulations requires transporters departing from Canada to report all serious injuries and deaths during air transport to the CFIA. The reporting requirement does not apply to deaths or injuries that occur after the horses are transferred to ground transport or during quarantine in Japan. The CFIA does not have the regulatory authority to require reporting of incidents that occur after transfer to ground transport and during quarantine.
Compliance reporting and data
The CFIA has taken several measures to strengthen documentation and reporting requirements.
- The CFIA has strengthened its documentation controls for exporters and air carriers to verify that the reporting requirements for air carriers are being met. This is in addition to collaboration with Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF) officials who are proactively providing information on horse shipments arriving in Japan.
- The CFIA will continue to analyse any new information that is provided by exporters, air carriers and MAFF.
- The agency will regularly update its website with information on serious incidents involving horses during transport to Japan.
- Canada and Japan's Chief Veterinary Officers will continue their collaboration on this important issue through their regular bilateral engagement.
Sources of the horses being exported to Japan
Japan requires that horses being exported to Japan originate from Canada. To meet Japan's requirements, horses must be born and raised in Canada or have been kept in Canada for at least 6 months prior to the start of pre-export isolation.
All horses exported to Japan require several vaccinations and blood tests. The horses are also required to be isolated from animals that are not being exported. The animal disease history of the premises where horses are kept prior to export must be known to complete the export certification.
Given Japan's animal health requirements, companies supplying the Japanese market raise horses specifically for export purposes. It is not practicable for exporters to use wild horses or horses from auctions in Canada or the United States for exports to Japan.
Subsidization of live horse exports
The CFIA does not provide subsidies or financial assistance to any livestock exporter.
The CFIA provides inspection and certification services to food, plant and animal exporters and charges cost-recovery fees at rates established by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fees Notice.
Additional information about horse meat and live horse exports
Horse meat is eaten in Canada and various countries in Europe, Asia and South America.
Horse meat is exported to Japan and other countries from facilities that are licensed by the CFIA under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations. The CFIA provides inspection services as required for horse slaughter as it does for other food animals.
There is also market demand in Japan for fresh horse meat that is partially filled by live horse exports from Canada. Exported horses are fattened in Japan before being slaughtered.