Aquatic Animal Health Status in CANADA

1. Aquatic Animal Health Status in CANADA Dr. Joanne Constantine Aquatic Animal Health Division, Canadian Food Inspection Agency

2. Structure of the Veterinary Services for Aquatic Animal Health • Federal Legislation: Health of Animals Act (HAA) Regulations: Transition from Fisheries Act to HAAHealth of Animals Regulations & Reportable Disease Regulations (under amendment); Programs: National Aquatic Animal Health Program (NAAHP) Laboratories: National Aquatic Animal Health Laboratory System (NAAHLS)

3. Structure of the Veterinary Services for Aquatic Animal Health Provincial Regulations: Vary from Province to Province Programs: Some Provinces have programs for endemic disease control Laboratories: Provincial laboratories and University Laboratories with aquatic animal health expertise

4. Structure of the Veterinary Services forAquatic Animal Health • Private sector Private standards: Aquaculture companies comply with provincial regulations and policy Programs: As above Laboratories: Private aquatic animal health laboratories provide routine health screening. Detection of OIE listed or diseases of federal concern must be submitted to NAAHLS reference laboratories for confirmation and reporting

5. Aquatic Animal Health StatusFish *Varies based on strain. VHSv IV endemic, rest exotic

6. Aquatic Animal Health Status Molluscs

7. Aquatic Animal Health Status Crustaceans

8. Aquatic Animal Health StatusAmphibians* *Not currently regulated under Health of Animals

9. Importance of Trade • EXPORTS - $4.1B annually to >80 countries. 80% seafood produced is exported • IMPORTS - $2.1B annually ~ processing, direct consumption, aquaculture, ornamental, recreational & ceremonial use. 80% seafood consumption is imported product

10. Emerging Diseases and Challenges • 1. Dynamic OIE international standards for health certification • 2. Lack of validation of OIE recommended tests (specificity/sensitivity) • 3. Listed diseases still encompass numerous strains – some ubiquitous in distribution and some with limited geographic distribution (e.g., VHS) • Complicates decision making on legislative/ regulatory needs & AAH program development.

11. Proposals Regarding Capacity Building • Canada working on a proposal for an OIE Collaborative Centre for Aquatic Epidemiology – based at the Atlantic Veterinary College • OIE RCA coordination of training modules for OIE listed diseases endemic to parts/all of the Americas. • OIE RCA discussion of training modules for OIE listed diseases that are exotic to the Americas. • Sharing sensitivity/specificity results from validation studies of OIE techniques applied to America’s countries environmental conditions and species ( e.g. WSV test for lobster)

12. Conclusions • Canada’s National Aquatic Animal Health Program (NAAHP) is being developed to meet OIE standards and other diseases of concern with respect to conservation of naïve and vulnerable resources. • Development of programs & regional harmonisation are complicated by rapidly evolving standards and trade challenges occurring at the same time. • Regulatory measures, in particular, need to take this into account in order to minimise unplanned and unscientifically justifiable impediments to trade within the Americas.