Dear Editor,
This comment is in response to the ethical question of the month submitted by Dr. M. Harper in the December 2017 Canadian Veterinary Journal (CVJ 2017;58:1253). Dr. Harper has suggested that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is not enforcing the Health of Animals Regulations in relation to horses transported by air to Japan and that the transport is not compliant with the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animals Regulations (LAR). The CFIA would like to provide clarification.
The CFIA is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Health of Animals Regulations, and in this capacity, it is committed to animal welfare during transportation. After due inspection and evaluation, the CFIA takes measures that are deemed appropriate according to the facts.
It has been observed that larger draft-type feeder horses have a strong instinct to remain in familiar social groups. Accordingly, the CFIA recognizes that it may be in the best interest of the horses to travel in small groups, subject to an assessment of all relevant facts, including incompatibility by reason of weight, nature, height, age, etc. This approach is consistent with the modernization of Part XII of the Health of Animals Regulations (Transportation of Animals), anticipated to be published in the Canada Gazette in 2018.
The question also states that “the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Live Animal Regulations do not allow horses to be shipped in wooden containers.” We would like to correct this misunderstanding. The IATA Live Animal Regulations (LAR) clearly indicate that wooden crates are permitted and mention wood as an acceptable material. In fact, the current (43rd edition) of LAR includes an illustration of an acceptable wooden crate.
Footnotes
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