Possible Amendments to the Animal Diseases Act

Agriculture and food production is an important part of Manitoba’s economy and is a vital contributor to the health and wellbeing of people. To ensure that food produced in Manitoba is safe for human consumption, the agriculture and food industry implements a range of biosecurity practices that prevents diseases and potential hazards from entering the food supply. Manitoba is exploring potential legislation that would protect biosecurity at food production premises where livestock or other animals are being kept in order to protect animals from hazards that may compromise food safety.

Other jurisdictions have taken steps that protect the safety of people and animals in agricultural operations. The approaches taken by other governments has been to designate areas as ‘biosecurity areas’ or ‘animal protection areas’ and to restrict who can enter these areas to those who own/operate the livestock operation. Other governments have also introduced restrictions on interfering with the transportation of livestock.