[ Simple ways for owners and handlers to protect horses from disease ]

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in partnership with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC), Equine Canada and its equine sector organizations has developed a National Farm and Facility Level Biosecurity Standard for the Equine Sector.

This new guidance document can be used by horse owners and custodians as a cost effective way to limit the risk of a disease outbreak on farms and other facilities where horses may be kept.

Funding to develop this Standard has been provided under Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Growing Forward 2 Agricultural Policy Framework. It can be adopted in its entirety or can supplement existing on-farm biosecurity programs as it provides:
-guidance on effective biosecurity practices to minimize the transmission of diseases
-ways to reduce the frequency, scope and impact of disease outbreaks
-multiple methods to enhance horse health, welfare and productivity

Through this partnership, we are currently developing a biosecurity guide that provides additional information on how to achieve the biosecurity goals outlined in the Standard. This guide will be available in late 2016.

http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1088209