Thank you, Mr. Chair, and good afternoon.
I appreciate the opportunity to speak to the committee members today on this important topic.
My name is Dr. Parthi Muthukumarasamy, and I work as executive director for international programs at the CFIA. I am accompanied by Kevin Urbanic, director general for Ontario operations.
Today, I will provide an overview of the CFIA’s role in the export and import of juvenile American eels, also known as baby eels or elvers.
Elvers are generally not exported for direct human consumption as food. Instead, elvers are exported to be grown on aquaculture farms in the importing country until they develop into adults and are then harvested to be used as food.
The CFIA regulates the export and import of live animals, including aquatic animals, under the Health of Animals Act and regulations. The export and import requirements for the trade of live animals, including aquatic animals, are primarily in place to prevent the introduction of animal diseases and diseases that could be transmitted from animals to humans.
In general, in order to provide assurances that the exported live animals, or animal products, meet an importing country’s requirements related to animal and human health, an official export certificate endorsed by the CFIA is required for clearing the shipment in the importing country. These export certificates are issued by the CFIA only when required by the importing country, and when the conditions for exports included in the certificate are established between the CFIA and the importing country.
Most countries do not require an export certification from the CFIA for the export of American elvers intended for aquaculture. Thus, the CFIA does not have an oversight for elvers exported to these countries that do not require an export certificate.
We note from earlier meetings of this committee that some members are interested in elver exports to China. Currently, China requires an export certificate from Canada for the export of elvers for aquaculture purposes. This certificate for the export of elvers was last issued in 2017 and has not been issued since then.
In the case of Hong Kong, it does not require an export certificate for the export of elvers from Canada unless the elvers are intended for re-export from Hong Kong to China. The last time CFIA issued an export certificate for the export of elvers to Hong Kong was June 2019.
From the import perspective, and the import of American eels or elvers into Canada, the CFIA currently does not require an aquatic animal health import permit or export certificate, as American eels are not known to be susceptible to any of the CFIA-regulated diseases.
The CFIA continues to work with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans on the export and import of elvers as it relates to animal and public health.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. We are pleased to respond to any questions pertaining to the CFIA’s role in elver exports and imports.