Animal Health Act

The Alberta Animal Health Act was created to enforce regulations that respond to diseases that can affect animal health, public health, and food safety.

 

As per the Animal Health Act:

A reportable disease requires the implementation of control or eradication measures to minimize the spread of a disease. This can be because the disease causes products derived from the diseased animal to be unsafe, the disease is a threat to animal or public health, and the disease is a threat to the economic interests of the animal industry. 

A notifiable disease requires monitoring if the location of the disease may effect trade, if the disease is new to Alberta, or if the disease-causing agent has changed with unknown effects to animal or public health. 

 

The Agricultural Fieldmen and the ASB assist in the control of animal diseases. Agricultural Fieldmen can be appointed as inspectors of disease outbreak if required by the Chief Provincial Veterinarian. It is the responsibility of the Agricultural Fieldmen to report any known or suspected disease outbreaks. Additionally, an animal owner must report to the Chief Provincial Veterinarian if there is a disease suspected or present in an animal. 

 

For more information and for a list of reportable and notifiable diseases, please visit Provincially regulated animal diseases | Alberta.ca.