Ontario may strengthen response to animal disease

According to reports, the recently introduced legislation, the Animal Health Act, aims to give the Ontario government more ability to respond during a disease outbreak among chicken or livestock.

The law would require reporting by veterinarians and laboratories on specific animal diseases to the provincial chief veterinarian (CVO). It would also grant inspectors the authority to inspect farms if there are "reasonable grounds" of a possible hazard. Other powers stipulated in the pending law include the use of surveillance, quarantine orders and the ability to order the destruction of livestock.