Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program (CWD HCP)

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 Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program (CWD HCP) 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 HCP 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 Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program (CWD HCP). The objective of the Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program (CWD HCP) 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 Chronic Wasting Disease Herd Certification Program may enroll.

What is the role of the CSF?

The Canadian Sheep Federation serves as CWD HCP Regional Administrator and Status Assessor. For cervids farms located in Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Quebec. The CWD HCP 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_HCP National Standards 2020.

PDF document for CSF CWD HCP SOP's.