Purpose
of the
Legislative
Overview
Animal Health Act and Regulation 277/12 (Ontario)
Act
Regulation
Purpose of the Act/
Regulation Animal Health Act, SO 2009, c 31, s 7, 9, 10, 39-40, 48(1-3), 49(1-3), 50
Requirement to
Report Veterinarians are required to report when a positive result for an immediately notifiable hazard, as defined in Schedule A
of Regulation 277, is received from a laboratory located outside of Ontario.
Ontario Regulation 277/12, s 2(1,3), 3(2), 4, 6, 17-20 (Reporting Hazards and Findings)
The Act enables the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs to respond in a timely manner to animal
health events with the objective of controlling serious diseases and other significant hazards. The reporting requirement
is designed to address unusual threats and hazards with significant animal and public health risks
Time Frame to Submit: Immediately (as soon as reasonably possible, within 18 hours of becoming aware of the
positive test result or finding)
Who Receives the Report: Chief Veterinarian of Ontario
How to Submit: Email [email protected]
Animal
Health Act
Health
Protection
and
Promotion
Act
Information Required: Regulation 277 s 6(1-2)
Veterinarians are required to report situations of very serious risk to animal health. Serious refers to a significant risk to
animal health, human health or food safety. Indications include an unusual disease cluster or unusually high mortality.
Occupational
Health and
Safety Act
Time Frame to Submit: Immediately (as soon as reasonably possible, within 18 hours of becoming aware of the
positive test result or finding)
Who Receives the Report: OMAFRA Agricultural Information Centre
Provincial
Animal
Welfare
Services Act
How to Submit: Telephone 1-877-424-1300 (available 24/7)
Information Required: Regulation 277 s 20(1-8)
For additional
information
Penalties
OMAFRA Agricultural Information Centre 1-877-424-1300 (available 24/7; a veterinarian is on-call)
An individual convicted of an offence may be liable to:
• On a first conviction, a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $15,000 for each day on which the offence
occurs or continues, and
• On each subsequent conviction (which includes convictions under various other animal health legislation), a
fine of not less than $2,000 and not more than $30,000 for each day on which the offence occurs or continues;
imprisonment for a term of not more than one year or both.
Controlled
Drugs and
Substances
Act
Food and
Drugs Act
A corporation convicted of an offence under this Act is liable to:
• On a first conviction, a fine of not less than $1,000 and not more than $30,000 for each day on which the offence
occurs or continues, and
• On each subsequent conviction, a fine of not less than $2000 and not more than $60,000 for each day on which the
offence occurs or continues.
Legislative Overview • Mandatory Reporting
5
Health of
Animals Act