OTTAWA, ON , July 17, 2024 /CNW/ - Today, the Honourable Mark Holland, Minister of Health, issued the following statement to update on the United States (U.S.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) decision to make changes to their import requirements for all dogs entering the U.S., coming into effect on August 1, 2024:

"Since the requirements were first announced by the CDC on May 8, 2024, the Prime Minister, myself and Members of Parliament have also raised the issue with U.S. partners, and U.S. Congressional leaders have shared concerns over the changes. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has been engaging with the CDC to seek solutions and flexibilities, clarify the new requirements and highlight the significant impact these requirements will have on Canadians and Americans.

"This has resulted in changes to the guidelines for Canadians, but the Government of Canada remains concerned by the potential negative impacts these new regulations will have on both Canadians and Americans.

"Canada is free of dog-maintained rabies virus variant (DMRVV), also known as dog rabies, and shares the same rabies free status as the United States. These new CDC regulations will impact all dogs entering the U.S. from Canada and will require Canadians to take on additional planning and costs to satisfy the new requirements. These regulations will also impact Americans returning with their dogs to the U.S. after visiting Canada.

"Tourism in the U.S. and in Canada will be impacted as travelers are forced to pay extra costs to travel to the U.S. with their dogs and navigate overwhelming administrative processes. Additionally, some airlines are unclear on how they could implement these new regulations.

"Transportation sectors, such as trucking, will face challenges that will affect both American and Canadian supply chains. Canada and the U.S. trade billions of dollars in goods and services every year. At a time when cost of living and economic growth are top of mind for our citizens, implementing these new CDC measures could strain these critical supply chains.

"The Government of Canada is concerned by the impacts to local economies and hospitality industries especially in border communities, which are often rural and rely on cross border traffic to support their local businesses and their jobs. Both Americans and Canadians living in border communities, who regularly cross the border to buy goods and services or to get to their place of work, will feel these effects.

"These CDC regulations disproportionately impact people with service dogs who require these support animals wherever they travel.

"Indigenous peoples that regularly travel across the border to their traditional territories will feel the effects of these CDC regulations.

"We continue to advocate for an exemption from these requirements, given that both Canada and the United States are free from dog rabies, the geographic realities of our shared border, and our strong economic and social ties.

"While the Government of Canada negotiates for further changes to ease the burden for Canadians, here is what Canadians should know now if they are looking to travel to the U.S. on or after August 1, 2024, with a dog:

• dogs must:
  • be at least 6 months of age;
  • have an ISO-compliant or universally readable microchip;
  • appear healthy upon arrival;
• a CDC Dog Import Form receipt is required for all dogs entering the U.S.;
• have a Canadian export document issued and signed by a Canadian licensed veterinarian (Authorized Veterinarian) with vaccination and microchip information. Endorsement by a CFIA veterinarian is not required:
  • all dogs entering the U.S. from Canada will need to be accompanied by additional documentation, which varies depending on where the dog was vaccinated against rabies and where the dog has been in the past 6 months before entering the U.S.

"Canada and the U.S. are both free of dog rabies and share the public health goal to prevent rabies. These new CDC regulations risk negative impacts to our people, our supply chains, and our local economies. Our government has been clear: many Canadians – like snowbirds and truckers – travel to the U.S. with dogs, and the CDC's new regulations will affect the people and economies on both sides of the border. We will continue to raise these concerns with our U.S. counterparts and work to find a path forward. Our government will always stand up for Canadians' interests."

For information on the latest requirements, visit: Dogs travelling to the U.S.

Stay connected

Twitter: @InspectionCan
Facebook: CFIACanada
LinkedIn: canadian-food-inspection-agency

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) touches the lives of all Canadians in so many positive ways. Each day, hard-working CFIA employees—including inspectors, veterinarians and scientists—inspect food for safety risks, protect plants from pests and invasive species, and respond to animal diseases that could threaten Canada's national herd and human health. Guided by science-based decision-making and modern regulations, the Agency works tirelessly to ensure access to safe and healthy food in Canada, and support access to international markets for our high-quality agricultural products. To learn more, visit inspection.canada.ca.

SOURCE Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)