Making sense of biosecurity infers understanding important  pieces of legislation governing the control of highly contagious animal diseases and zoonotic diseases that pose a serious threat to human health. Enabling legislation at both federal and provincial  levels allows agencies charged with maintaining animal and human health the legal oversight to:

• Name diseases and prescribe control measures for the public good

• Impose regulations regarding movement, quarantine, control and destruction (in the case of animals and animal products) of infected  material

• Pass laws governing international import and export of animals and animal products

• Protect people from risks associated with animal care in all aspects of veterinary medicine and food animal production

• Protect animal health and welfare

• Mitigate the negative effect of animal diseases on commerce

• Ensure food safety so that food does not become an unintended part of disease transmission

The following links provide an overview of various acts and regulations within the purview of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Regulatory Services Division of Alberta Agriculture (RSD).

        

Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Acts and Regulations

www.inspection.gc.ca/english/reg/rege.shtml

            

Biosecurity, as defined in this manual, is an integral part of programs and policies created in response to the legislated mandate around disease control specifically involving animals and, in broader terms, at the animal-human interface.

        

The Biosecurity in Practice manual provides a sketch of key regulatory documents containing significant components related to biosecurity. The companion Biosecurity in Practice webpage contains hyperlinks to complete documents and explanatory directives as posted on the Internet.