“The Canadian hog industry is committed to the highest standards of quality, food safety and environmental sustainability,” stated Jurgen Preugschas, Chair of the Canadian Pork Council “and the actions taken over the past few days by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) are a clear demonstration of the strength of Canada’s food inspection system and commitment to safety.”

As a precautionary measure CFIA temporarily suspended production in an Alberta hog processing facility following the detection of apparent lesions on an animal. CFIA initiated an investigation and sent tissue samples for further testing.

Below is the statement CFIA released lifting the restrictions on the Alberta slaughter facility.

Restrictions Lifted from Alberta Slaughter Facility

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has conclusively ruled out federally reportable diseases, including foot-and-mouth disease and swine vesicular disease, in pigs at an Alberta slaughter facility.

Based on these results, the Agency has lifted all movement restrictions. The facility has been thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, and has resumed regular business. There is no human health or food safety concern associated with this incident.

The CFIA wishes to thank the plant operators and the Province of Alberta for their extensive cooperation during this investigation.

In all cases where federally-reportable diseases are suspected or confirmed, the goal is to minimise disruptions to producers, while respecting Canada’s domestic and international obligations to take appropriate and prudent control measures. These measures are critical for protecting the health of Canadian livestock and maintaining market access.