Act
Amendment to O. Reg. 666/98 (Possession, Buying and Selling of Wildlife) under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 to prohibit importation of live captive white-tailed deer, elk, moose, caribou, and/or their hybrids into Ontario, unless done so under an authorization issued under the Act, to help minimize the risk of entry of Chronic Wasting Disease into Ontario
Regulation Number(s):
O. Reg. 666/98
O. Reg. 324/10
O. Reg. 324/10
Instrument Type:
Act
Bill or Act:
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997
Summary of Decision:
A decision was made to proceed with the proposal. The proposal was implemented by an amendment to O. Reg. 666/98 (Possession, Buying and Selling of Wildlife) by O. Reg. 324/10. This regulation was filed by the Registrar of Regulations on August 17, 2010 and published in the Ontario Gazette on September 4, 2010.
Specifically the following changes were made: An amendment to the regulation to add Section 30.1 restricts the transport of live cervids into Ontario to persons with a valid permit. The regulation requires certain criteria to be met to help prevent Chronic Wasting Disease from being introduced in to Ontario through animals transported in from other jurisdictions.
Specifically the following changes were made: An amendment to the regulation to add Section 30.1 restricts the transport of live cervids into Ontario to persons with a valid permit. The regulation requires certain criteria to be met to help prevent Chronic Wasting Disease from being introduced in to Ontario through animals transported in from other jurisdictions.
Further Information:
A link to the current regulation (O. Reg. 666/98) under the Fish & Wildlife Conservation Act
O. Reg. 666/98 (Possession, Buying and Selling of Wildlife)
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997
Proposal Number:
10-MNR002
Posting Date:
March 31, 2010
Summary of Proposal:
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has not been found in Ontario and continued vigilance is required to minimize the risks of it inadvertently being transported here. In 2005, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Ministry of Agriculture, Food & Rural Affairs, in partnership with the Ministry of Health & Long-Term Care and Canadian Food Inspection Agency, developed the Ontario Chronic Wasting Disease Surveillance & Response Plan. Prevention is a cornerstone of this plan.
CWD is a degenerative, fatal brain disease that affects certain members of the deer family, including white-tailed deer, elk, and moose. The disease is believed to be caused by abnormal proteins called prions and is in the same family of diseases as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or Mad Cow Disease). There is no evidence to date that CWD can be transmitted to humans. There is a significant risk to wild and captive members of the deer family as the disease is fatal in these species and there is no cure.
One potential pathway for the spread of CWD is from movement of infected captive white-tailed deer, elk, moose, caribou, and/or their hybrids into Ontario which, in turn, could spread the infective prions to other wild or captive animals in the province. At this time, CWD has been detected in captive/farmed deer and/or elk in 12 U.S. states and 2 Canadian provinces.
Based on the continuing spread of CWD among captive animals, an amendment to O. Reg 666/98 (Possession, Buying and Selling of Wildlife) under the Fish & Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 is being proposed. This amendment would prohibit the importation of live captive white-tailed deer, elk, moose, caribou, and their hybrids into Ontario, unless done so under an authorization issued under the Act, to help minimize the risk of entry of Chronic Wasting Disease into Ontario. This amendment would apply to all live captive white-tailed deer, elk, moose, caribou, and/or their hybrids imported into Ontario regardless of origin (e.g. province or state of origin) or destination in Ontario (e.g. farm, zoo, establishment registered under the Meat Inspection Act (Canada), or slaughter plant licensed under the Food Safety & Quality Act (Ontario).
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food, & Rural Affairs has posted a policy proposal on this registry which explains the proposed policy for issuing importation authorizations. Please consult EBR Registry number 010-8462. If these amendments are enacted, and subject to coordination with implementation of OMAFRA policy proposal, the proposed implementation of the new requirements will be July 2010. Prior to implementation, a Decision Notice will be posted on this registry.
CWD is a degenerative, fatal brain disease that affects certain members of the deer family, including white-tailed deer, elk, and moose. The disease is believed to be caused by abnormal proteins called prions and is in the same family of diseases as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE or Mad Cow Disease). There is no evidence to date that CWD can be transmitted to humans. There is a significant risk to wild and captive members of the deer family as the disease is fatal in these species and there is no cure.
One potential pathway for the spread of CWD is from movement of infected captive white-tailed deer, elk, moose, caribou, and/or their hybrids into Ontario which, in turn, could spread the infective prions to other wild or captive animals in the province. At this time, CWD has been detected in captive/farmed deer and/or elk in 12 U.S. states and 2 Canadian provinces.
Based on the continuing spread of CWD among captive animals, an amendment to O. Reg 666/98 (Possession, Buying and Selling of Wildlife) under the Fish & Wildlife Conservation Act, 1997 is being proposed. This amendment would prohibit the importation of live captive white-tailed deer, elk, moose, caribou, and their hybrids into Ontario, unless done so under an authorization issued under the Act, to help minimize the risk of entry of Chronic Wasting Disease into Ontario. This amendment would apply to all live captive white-tailed deer, elk, moose, caribou, and/or their hybrids imported into Ontario regardless of origin (e.g. province or state of origin) or destination in Ontario (e.g. farm, zoo, establishment registered under the Meat Inspection Act (Canada), or slaughter plant licensed under the Food Safety & Quality Act (Ontario).
The Ministry of Agriculture, Food, & Rural Affairs has posted a policy proposal on this registry which explains the proposed policy for issuing importation authorizations. Please consult EBR Registry number 010-8462. If these amendments are enacted, and subject to coordination with implementation of OMAFRA policy proposal, the proposed implementation of the new requirements will be July 2010. Prior to implementation, a Decision Notice will be posted on this registry.
Contact Address:
Mike Gatt
Senior Regional Wildlife Biologist
Ministry of Natural Resources
Policy Division
Biodiversity Branch
Wildlife Policy Section
300 Water Street
PO Box 7000
Peterborough Ontario
K9J 8M5
Senior Regional Wildlife Biologist
Ministry of Natural Resources
Policy Division
Biodiversity Branch
Wildlife Policy Section
300 Water Street
PO Box 7000
Peterborough Ontario
K9J 8M5
Royal Assent Date:
August 17, 2010
Decision:
Approved