Chronic Wasting Disease Voluntary Herd Certification Program (CWDP)
About the program
Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) is a progressive, fatal nervous system disease known to naturally infect white-tailed deer, mule deer, moose, elk and reindeer. At this time there is no direct scientific evidence to suggest that CWD may be transmitted to humans. It is however recommended that any tissue that may have come from a known CWD-infected animal not be used or consumed by humans.
Chronic Wasting Disease belongs to the family of diseases known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), or prion disease. Though it shares features with other TSEs, such as bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) in cattle and scrapie in sheep and goats, it is a distinct disease only known at this time to naturally affect members of the deer (cervid) family. In 2002, the CFIA established national standards for a Voluntary Herd Certification Program (VHCP) to provide cervid owners with tools to help mitigate the risk of developing CWD and the opportunity to have their herds identified as elite with respect to CWD. The Canadian Sheep Federation serves as CWD VHCP Regional Administrator and Status Assessor for cervids farms located in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec.
​
To learn more about Chronic Wasting Disease, visit the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
​
​
Chronic Wasting Disease Eradication
Measures have been taken at both the federal and provincial/territorial levels to reduce human exposure to products potentially contaminated by CWD by preventing known infected animals from entering the food chain.
The CFIA implemented a CWD eradication policy in October 2000. In 2002, the CFIA established national standards for a Voluntary Herd Certification Program (VHCP). The objective of the Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) Voluntary Herd Certification Program is to provide owners with the opportunity to have their herds identified as elite with respect to CWD. Membership in the certification program provides assurances to potential purchasers of animals that a purchase from a herd with the same level has the same risk of being infected with CWD. The level of assurance of CWD freedom depends on the length of time the herd has been enrolled in the program. Any owner of elk or deer premises who agrees to comply with the provisions outlined in the CWD Voluntary Herd Certification Program may enroll.
​
​
What is the role of the CSF?
The Canadian Sheep Federation serves as CWD VHCP Regional Administrator and Status Assessor. For cervids farms located in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. The CWD VHCP National Standards (PDF) outlines program rules and requirements, and the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP's) explain how the program is delivered.
​
PDF document for CWD_VHCP National Standards 2020.
PDF document for CSF CWD VHCP SOP's.
​
List of enrolled producers:
List of Chronic Wasting Disease Program forms
- Annual Submission Checklist 2020.
- Veterinarian & Veterinarian Inventory _.Confirmation 2020.
- Annual Owner Farm Information _.Update 2020.
- Transfer of Responsibility to Herd _.Manager 2020.
- Owner-Operator Inventory _.Confirmation 2020.
- Quarterly On-Farm Death Report _.2020.
- Declaration of Enrollment 2020.
- Escape Intrusion Report 2020.
- Assumption of Risk Indemnity _.Agreement Release 2020.
- Biosecurity Assessment 2020.
- Assumption of Risk Indemnity _.Agreement Release 2020.
- Trucker Statement 2020.
- Assumption of Risk Indemnity _.Agreement Release 2020.
- Entire Herd Inventory Multiple Years _.2020.
- Annual Operation Review 2020.
- Annual Submission Review Form _.2020.
- Farm Site Plan 2020.
- Consent to Release Information to _.CSF.
- Veterinarian Inventory Confirmation _.2020.
- Regional Administrator Contact and _.Fees.