Notice to Industry: Import restrictions due to Lumpy Skin Disease in Europe

2025-12-18

Since June 2025, outbreaks of Lumpy Skin Disease (LSD) have been detected in Europe. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency continues to monitor the LSD situation across Europe, including the affected countries, as additional outbreaks may occur.

LSD is a reportable disease under the Heath of Animals Act, which means suspected cases must be immediately reported to us. LSD affects cattle and buffalo and is transmitted primarily by biting insects (such as flies and mosquitos) and the movement of infected animals.

Preventing the introduction of LSD into Canada is critical because the disease can spread quickly and significantly impact cattle production and trade. While LSD does not pose a risk to public health, dairy products made from unpasteurized milk, such as cheese, can still carry the virus. This presents a risk of transmission to animals and can significantly impact their health and well-being.

As a result, proactive import measures have been put in place to prevent the risk of transmission. The import restrictions are based on international standards set by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)'s Chapter 11.9 on Lumpy Skin Disease.

Import restrictions

Import restrictions are in effect for the following commodities originating from cattle or buffalo from the affected countries:

  • dairy products made from pasteurized milk – pasteurized milk products must be accompanied by a zoosanitary certificate stating they have been treated with 1 of the following:
    • Ultra-High Temperature (UHT) pasteurization, which is a sterilization process applying a minimum temperature of 140ºC for at least 3 seconds
    • High Temperature Short Time (HTST) pasteurization, which is a process applying a minimum temperature of 72ºC for at least 15 seconds
    • batch pasteurization at 63ºC for 30 minutes
  • cheese made from unpasteurized milk – must have been produced using milk collected prior to the country-specific restriction date
    • refer to country-specific restriction dates on the Lumpy skin disease - Countries that Canada recognizes as being free from the disease
    • shipments of cheese produced using milk collected prior to the restriction date will continue to be accepted
    • cheese made from raw milk (unpasteurized milk) must be accompanied by a commercial document such as an invoice or packing slip showing that it was produced or exported before the restriction date for the country of origin; OR
    • As of December 18, 2025, aged unpasteurized cheese from Switzerland may be imported with a zoosanitary certificate
    • As of January 6, 2026, aged unpasteurized cheese from Italy may be imported with a zoosanitary certificate
    • As of March 6, 2026, aged unpasteurized cheese from France may be imported with a zoosanitary certificate
  • cheese made from pasteurized milk continues to be eligible for import from LSD-affected countries
  • hides and skins – hides and skins must be accompanied by a zoosanitary certificate stating that they meet 1 of the following conditions:
    • raw, green, or frozen hides and skins must have been collected prior to the date that restrictions were placed on the country
    • treated hides and skins must have been treated with one of the following methods considered to be effective against LSD:
      • drying – treated at 20°C or higher for at least 42 days
      • salting – treated with salt containing 2% sodium chloride at least 7 days
      • liming – treated to a pH of 11.5 or greater for at least 48 hours
      • pickling – treated to a pH of 3.0 or lower for at least 48 hours
      • tanning – treated with alkaline chromium (III) sulfate, vegetable tanning agents, or synthetic tanning agents to irreversibly turn the hides and skins into leather
    • hides and skins not meeting these requirements may be disinfected in Canada after a CFIA inspector verifies the shipment is in a sealed leak-proof container, and licenses it to its pre-approved destination – the importer must have arranged the disinfection with a facility approved by the CFIA for the disinfection of imported animal products and by-products before the shipment arrives in Canada
  • live bovines and water buffalo
  • germplasm of bovine and water buffalo

As per the WOAH guidelines, there are no restrictions for imported meat products because meat is considered a safe commodity. These restrictions will be reviewed as the situation evolves.

Additional resources for importers

We recommend that importers be aware of the LSD situation in Europe and ensure Canada's import requirements for animals and animal products are followed to protect Canada's animal health resources.

Importers are advised to visit our resources for more information:

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