Should Canada Change How It Controls Chronic Wasting Disease in Farmed Deer and Elk?

Official title: Share your thoughts: Proposed changes to the Chronic Wasting Disease Control Program

Closed Regulations & Permits Agriculture & Food Health & Safety
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency wanted feedback on updating its program to control chronic wasting disease (CWD) in farmed deer and elk. CWD is a fatal brain disease spreading to new parts of Canada. The current program from 2019 hasn't stopped the spread, so the agency proposed a regional approach and stronger testing to keep infected animals out of the food supply.

Why This Matters

Eat venison or elk? This disease can't be cooked out of meat. Hunters and anyone who buys game meat should care about how it's controlled. If you live near deer farms, wild deer in your area could be affected too.

What Could Change

New rules could require different testing and monitoring depending on whether CWD is already established in your region. Farmed deer and elk operations may face stricter requirements to prevent infected animals from entering the food supply. Compensation rules for farmers whose herds are affected could also change.

Key Issues

  • Should CWD control measures vary by region based on whether the disease is emerging or established?
  • How can testing be improved to keep CWD-infected cervids out of the commercial food supply?

How to Participate

  1. Review the overview of proposed changes to understand what was being considered.
  2. This consultation is now closed. Feedback was submitted via survey or by email to cwd-mdc@inspection.gc.ca.

What Happened

The consultation ran from September 19 to November 21, 2025. The CFIA will review all survey results and comments received, use feedback to assess how proposed changes would impact partners and stakeholders, and publish a report summarizing what was heard.

Key Documents