Public consultation on the proposal to amend requirements
related to livestock health in organic production systems.
Article 6.5.7 : vaccination

The Conseil des appellations réservées et des termes valorisants (CARTV) invites certifying bodies, producer associations, producers, other stakeholders and the general public to provide comments regarding the proposed adoption of measures aimed at ensuring more effective oversight of vaccine use in the provision of health care for livestock raised under organic management in Quebec to produce animal products (eggs, milk, meat). The proposed plan, presented below, has been drawn up by the Standards Committee of the CARTV.

Once the consultation process has ended, the Standards Committee will examine the comments received in order to determine whether the proposed measures, in the event that they are adopted by the Board of Directors, will be implemented as amendments to the rules governing the administration of vaccines to livestock raised under organic management in Quebec to produce animal products.

Background

Article 6.5.7 of the Quebec Organic Reference Standard sets out provisions governing the administration of vaccines to livestock raised under organic management in Quebec to produce animal products.

In accordance with Article 6.5.7, vaccines are to be administered to animals only when it has been established that targeted diseases exist within the livestock-raising environment and that the diseases cannot be combatted by other means. Vaccinations required by law are permitted. No withdrawal period is required in the case of vaccines administered to livestock under organic management.

Most vaccines contain one or more antibiotics and an antifungal agent used as preservatives. Pursuant to Article 6.5.4, in order to retain their organic status, animals used for meat production must not receive treatments using synthetic antibiotics. However, the level of antibiotics permitted in a vaccine for preservation purposes is below the therapeutic dose. Vaccines containing antibiotics used as preservatives are therefore acceptable for use in organic livestock production. .

In Canada, veterinary biologics are governed by the Health of Animals Act and its Regulations. Section K of the Regulations stipulates that, in the case of a veterinary biologic products intended for use in food producing animals, the minimum period of withdrawal that is authorized is 21 days. The period may be longer, as specified in the production protocol.

The CARTV’s Standards Committee has prepared a proposal for amending Article 6.5.7 of the Organic Reference Standards. The proposed amendment requires that the prescribed period of withdrawal be doubled in the case of vaccination. The proposed additions to the existing wording are shown below in bold font.

The rules pertaining to livestock health care in organic production systems, including Article 6.5.7, which will be amended in accordance with the proposal presented below, are available on the following Web site :

http://www.cartvquebec.com/en/organic-designation/organic-standard/livestock-production.asp

Proposal to amend requirements related to livestock health in organic production systems.

The provisions proposed as addtions to the existing to the existing text are indicated in bold print.

Article 6.5.7 : Vaccination

Vaccines are to be used only when it has been established that targeted diseases do exist within the production environment and cannot be combated by other means. However, vaccinations required by law are permitted. Where a vaccine containing an antibiotic used as a preservative has been administered to animals intended for slaughter, a withdrawal period that is double the prescribed period must be applied prior to the slaughter of those animals. No withdrawal period is required for animals raised for milk production.

Presentation

All parties submitting comments concerning the proposed amendment, should focus on the impact that the amended provisions could have on products of concern to them.

Comments must be submitted by December 31, 2006, either by fax to 514-873-2580, by e-mail to anor@CARTV.org or by mail to the following address:

Secretary of the Standards Committee
Conseil des appellations réservées et des termes valorisants
35 Port Royal Est, 2nd Floor, Room 2.00
Montreal (Quebec)
H3L 3T1