OTTAWA, Ont. – If you handle live animals, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) wants to hear from you.

Last year, CFIA began the process of re-examining Part XII of the Health of Animals Regulations – Transportation of Animals (Regulations), with an eye toward amending the rules.

As part of that process, the agency conducted a round of cost benefit consultations with stakeholders—or at least it attempted to do so. CFIA’s first effort “did not yield a sufficient response level to support completing the mandatory analysis for the sector and regulatory proposal.” In fact it received answers from “fewer than ten respondents,” to a cost-benefit questionnaire, which meant that it could not “analyse the potential incremental costs associated with the proposed changes to feed, water, and rest for porcine and equine species. “

According to CFIA a review of the regulations is necessary because “Canada’s current humane transportation Regulations no longer reflect current industry practices, current science, or societal expectations. Public perception and livestock industry practices have changed. Public scrutiny, stakeholder interest, and advancements in animal welfare have increased significantly in recent years. Gaps exist with the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) standards, and there is pressure from international partners who desire to see changes to the Regulations in the context of Canadian exports (e.g. Europe).”

Separate questionnaires have been created to gather information from land (trucking), ocean and air carriers about the number of live animal shipments they handle, their rest and feeding schedules, and the costs associated with moving the livestock.

The deadline for answering and submitting the questionnaire is September 30, 2014.

To complete the land carrier survey in English click here. For the French survey, click here.