Canadian African Swine Fever Compartment Program

The Canadian African Swine Fever (ASF) Compartment Program is a disease management approach to support trade of live pigs, pork and pork products when the disease is present in Canada. The Canadian ASF Compartment Program is a shared responsibility between the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), provincial and territorial governments, the Canadian Pork Council (CPC) and hog producers.

The CFIA sets the National Standards and Framework for ASF compartments in Canada. The CPC is responsible for the ASF Compartment Operator Program (COP), strictly based on the Standards and Framework, and ensuring pork producers meet the COP requirements. The CFIA approves and oversees the COP.

The requirements for the Canadian ASF Compartment Program are detailed in the National Standards, the National Framework and the COP.

• Canada's National Standards for African Swine Fever Compartments Version 1 updated 2023-10-25
• Canada's National Framework for African Swine Fever Compartments Version 1 updated 2023-10-25
• Compartment Operator Program (in development)

More resources on the Canadian ASF Compartment Program, including information on how to apply, are available from the Canadian Pork Council.

What is compartmentalization

Compartmentalization is a disease management approach to create subpopulations (compartments) of pigs within the larger pig population. In accordance with international guidelines for the control of animal health by the World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH), an ASF compartment is a subpopulation of pigs contained in 1 or more establishments, separated from other susceptible pig populations by a common biosecurity management system, whose health status for ASF is distinct from the rest of the pig population in the country or a zone. The compartment demonstrates that facilities and premises adhere to stringent biosecurity measures, regular surveillance, and traceability protocols to create a secure and isolated production system for the purpose of international trade as well as disease prevention and control in a country or zone.

More information on compartmentalization can be found on WOAH website under the Application of Compartmentalisation.

How compartmentalization works

Compartments are developed and managed by industry with approval and oversight by the CFIA. They are an effective tool in preventing ASF from entering production systems. Approved compartments have more flexibility in moving live pigs and pork products even within an infected zone and may be subject to less restrictions. This is because the compartment is designed to stop ASF from entering since they are applying risk reduction measures at all times.

In order for a compartment to support trade, it must be established and fully operational before an outbreak of ASF. It must be formally recognized by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the country importing the pigs or pork products.

Compartmentalization versus zoning

Compartmentalization creates a separate subpopulation of animals by common management and biosecurity measurements while zones are based on geographical boundaries. A country may have more than 1 zone or compartment within its territory.

A compartment or part of a compartment can be present within an infected zone. It is the biosecurity and surveillance practices of the compartment that maintain the ASF-free status of the pigs within the compartment, not the location of the premises. This makes continued trade of pigs and pork products from a compartment free of ASF theoretically possible even when a premises is located within an infected zone.

Both approaches aim to prevent and manage disease but use different criteria and methods.