Protecting Canada’s livestock industry with a new vaccine bank

Jun 10, 2025 | 3:42 PM

Canada is making significant progress towards the creation of a dedicated foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) vaccine bank.

This will build on existing protections for the livestock industry and equip producers with another tool to control and eliminate the disease should an outbreak occur.

Following a competitive procurement process, Public Services and Procurement Canada, on behalf of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, awarded contracts to Boehringer Ingelheim Animal Health and Biogénesis Bagó SA to supply multiple types of vaccine products and develop Canada’s first FMD vaccine bank.

The bank complements Canada’s current access to vaccines through the North American Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank, ensuring readily available vaccines for Canadian producers.

Canadian Cattle Association President Tyler Fulton said establishing a dedicated FMD vaccine bank is a vital tool in safeguarding the health of livestock, market access and the future of the industry.

“CFIA’s announcement marks a key milestone towards our shared goal of strengthening Canada’s preparedness against the threat of foot-and-mouth disease,” Fulton said. “We will continue to work with governments and stakeholders to ensure Canada has a robust emergency preparedness and prevention strategy against FMD.”

FMD is a highly contagious and severe disease that affects cattle, sheep, swine, and other cloven-hoofed animals. An FMD infection can cause painful blisters that make it hard for animals to eat, walk, and produce milk, leaving them weak and sick.

alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com