Biosecurity Benchmarking Study to Be Launched
CANADA - The Canadian Swine Health Board plans to launch a national biosecurity benchmarking study in January, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Animal Health Awareness Campaign Launched
CANADA - The Government of Canada launched a national awareness campaign focused on key farm management practices that will help keep animals healthy and safeguard the Canadian food supply.

U of M Calls for International Food Safety Standards
CANADA - A professor with the University of Manitoba is calling for international standards for the approval of health claims on food product labels, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Cull Breeding Swine Program Audits Underway
OTTAWA, CANADA - As a requirement of the Cull Breeding Swine Program (CBSP), random audits are being conducted to ensure culled breeding swine facilities are in compliance.

Pork Producers Welcome Reopening of PSC Elstow
CANADA - Saskatchewan pork producers are hailing the reopening of the PSC Elstow Research Farm under new ownership as very good news for the province's pork industry. writes Bruce Cochrane.

Sale of PSC Elstow Research Farm Applauded
CANADA - Western Canadian pork producers are welcoming the reopening the PSC Elstow Research Farm under new ownership as very good news for the Canadian pork industry.

Weatherill Report Expected to Improve Food Safety
CANADA - A food safety expert with the University of Manitoba is confident recommendations contained in a just released report on a 2008 listeriosis outbreak can serve to improve food safety in Canada...

Maple Leaf Endorses Report Recommendations
CANADA - The president and CEO of Maple Leaf Foods is endorsing recommendations contained in a just released report on a 2008 listeriosis outbreak linked to one of his company's processing plants, writes...

Agriculture Minister Reacts to Weatherill Report
CANADA - Canada's agriculture minister says a just released report on last summer's deadly listeriosis outbreak will be a key part of efforts to strengthen Canada food safety system, writes Bruce Coch...

Reward for Biosecurity and Disease Monitoring Urged
CANADA - A Canadian agri-food consultant is calling for international rules that reward nations that exercise superior biosecurity and maintain transparency in the monitoring and reporting of animal disease,...

National Farmed Animal Health Strategy Expected
CANADA - The Chief veterinary officer for Manitoba expects a new National Farmed Animal Health Strategy to be rolled out within the next year, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Herd Health Key to Edge in Global Pork Markets
CANADA - The chair of the Canadian Swine Health Board says, despite the economic challenges, the health status of the Canadian swine herd gives the Canadian pork industry an edge in the global market place,...

WCVM Expands to Meet Demand for Vet Services
CANADA - The dean of the Western College of Veterinary Medicine says the demand for veterinary services continues to expand, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Action Prompted Against Swine Disease
CANADA - A director on the Canadian Swine Health Board says losses inflicted on the Canadian swine industry by circovirus brought about the realization that action was needed to prevent and control disease...

Swine Health Forum to Deal with Emerging Diseases
CANADA - The Canadian Swine Health Board is confident an international swine health conference slated for next month will help provide clearer direction for dealing with new and emerging diseases within...

Consumer Prioritised in Listeria Aftermath
OTTAWA, CANADA - The Canadian Food Inspection Agency must focus its activities on the protection of Canadians.

H1N1 Influenza Not Considered a Food Safety Risk
CANADA - An associate professor with the Western College of Veterinary Medicine is assuring the public, it's not possible for people to contract influenza from eating pork, reports Bruce Cochrane.

Safety of Pork Stressed Amid H1N1 Concerns
CANADA - The Canadian Pork Council is assuring the public of the safety of pork following the discovery of H1N1 flu in an Alberta swine herd, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Alberta Swine Herd Investigated for H1N1 Flu Virus
CANADA - On 2 May, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has indicated that it has found H1N1 flu virus in a swine herd in Alberta. However, the safety of the food supply is not affected.

Adherence to Biosecurity Protocols Urged
CANADA - Manitoba's chief veterinary officer is calling for strict adherence to established biosecurity protocols on farms, close monitoring of swine herds and immediate reporting of signs of illness,...

Vigilance Advocated for Protection Against Swine Flu
CANADA - The Western College of Veterinary Medicine is calling for vigilance to minimize the risk of Canada's swine herd becoming infected by a human form swine flu, writes Bruce Cochrane.

Agricultural Aspects of Swine Influenza Outlined
CANADA - The Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives (MAFRI) has highlighted some of the crucial points of the new strain of swine influenza.

WCVM Upgrades to Enhance Biosecurity
CANADA - The Western College of Veterinary Medicine says improved biosecurity is among the resulting benefits of a six million dollar upgrade of its Diagnostics Laboratory and Large Animal Clinic, writes...

Control of Cross Contamination in Feed Mills Advised
CANADA - Controlling cross contamination in animal feed mills is being recommended as one way of keeping the pathogens responsible for foodborne illness in humans out of the food chain, writes Bruce C...

Expert Calls for Action Against Pathogens in Feed
MANITOBA, CANADA - A food safety and food microbiology professor is calling for action to prevent the contamination of animal feeds with the pathogens responsible for foodborne illness in humans, writes...