Canada Establishes First National Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank to Safeguard Livestock Sector
Summary: Canada has launched its first national Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine bank, enhancing its preparedness against potential outbreaks of the highly contagious livestock disease. Partnering with Boehringer Ingelheim and Biogénesis Bagó SA, the initiative ensures rapid access to emergency vaccines and complements existing North American reserves. This proactive step, supported by federal, provincial, and industry stakeholders, strengthens biosecurity, safeguards food systems, and reinforces Canada’s long-term commitment to livestock health and agricultural resilience.
In a landmark step toward bolstering national biosecurity and livestock disease preparedness, Canada is establishing its first-ever dedicated Foot-and-Mouth Disease (FMD) vaccine bank. The initiative significantly enhances the country’s ability to respond swiftly and effectively to potential outbreaks of this highly contagious livestock disease.
Following a competitive procurement process, Public Services and Procurement Canada—on behalf of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)—awarded contracts to two leading animal health companies: Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health and Biogénesis Bagó SA. These companies will supply a diverse range of FMD vaccine products, laying the foundation for Canada’s domestic vaccine bank while complementing existing access through the North American Foot-and-Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank.
What is Foot-and-Mouth Disease and Why Does It Matter
FMD is a severe and highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals,, including cattle,, pigs, sheep, and goats. Infected animals experience painful blisters in the mouth and on the feet, making it difficult to eat, walk, and produce milk. An outbreak could cripple the livestock sector, disrupt food supply chains, and result in substantial economic losses across agriculture-dependent regions.
Canada has long maintained strict import controls, on-farm biosecurity protocols, and robust disease surveillance systems. However, a domestic FMD vaccine bank provides a critical new layer of protection, ensuring immediate access to emergency vaccines in the event of an outbreak.
A Coordinated, Forward-Looking Response
The establishment of the FMD vaccine bankmarks a significant collaboration among federal, provincial, and territorial governments, ass well as key stakeholders from the Canadian livestock industry. These joint efforts are essential to Canada’s broader FMD preparedness strategy and underline the importance of proactive planning in safeguarding food security and animal health.
Having a readily accessible stockpile of emergency vaccines enables Canada to quickly contain and reduce the scale and duration of any future FMD outbreaks. It also helps ensure business continuity for livestock producers and mitigates the potential for trade disruptions.
This strategic move is part of Canada’s long-term commitment to livestock health resilience and pandemic preparedness in the agricultural sector.
