Government of Canada announces requests for proposal for the foot and mouth disease vaccine bank

OTTAWA, ON, Aug. 30, 2024 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is continuing to advance its work of protecting animal health by establishing a foot and mouth disease (FMD) vaccine bank. The vaccine bank is a key part of Canada's response plans to control and ultimately eliminate an outbreak of FMD should it be detected in Canadian animals.

Today, a Request for Proposal (RFP) was issued by Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), to supply vaccine products to the FMD vaccine bank.

The successful bidder(s) would provide concentrated FMD vaccines that could be rapidly transformed into usable vaccines. Information about the RFP including requirements, criteria, processes and timelines is available to interested bidders on CanadaBuys. 

The vaccine bank will help protect Canada from the emerging threat of this disease, maintain public confidence in the Canadian food supply, and help reduce the spread of the disease, should an outbreak occur. An effective and efficient response, including vaccination, will also help mitigate prolonged market disruptions to trade. 

Quotes 

"It's vitally important that we continue to take steps to protect livestock, and the livelihood of our hardworking farmers, against the threat of animal disease. By creating a dedicated foot and mouth disease vaccine bank, we're working to reduce the spread of the disease and the impact that a potential outbreak would have on market access for Canadian producers. Today's announcement marks another step forward in the on-going work of supporting our animal disease preparedness efforts."

-The Honourable Lawrence MacAulay, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Quick Facts 

• Budget 2023 committed $57.5 million over five years, with $5.6 million ongoing, to the CFIA to establish an FMD vaccine bank for Canada, and to develop FMD response plans.
• The economic impacts in Canada are estimated to between $20.9B and $65.2B depending on the mode of introduction and extent of spread.
• FMD is a severe, highly communicable viral disease of cattle and swine. It also affects sheep, goats, deer and other cloven-hoofed ruminants but not horses. Many affected animals recover, but the disease leaves them weakened and debilitated.
• Canada has been free from FMD since 1952, and strict measures are in place to prevent the disease from entering Canada. FMD is not a public health risk and is not considered a food safety issue.
• The CFIA would use a vaccine only in the event of an outbreak to protect animals and help stop the spread of disease. This complements Canada's current access to vaccines through the North American Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank (NAFMDVB) ensuring readily available vaccines for Canadian producers.
• In Canada, FMD is a reportable disease under the Health of Animals Act, and all suspect cases must be reported to the CFIA.
• The CFIA monitors the status of FMD worldwide and has emergency preparedness and response plans ready.

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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)

Contacts: Annie Cullinan, Director of Communications, Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, [email protected]; Media Relations, Canadian Food Inspection Agency, 613-773-6600, [email protected]