FAIRBURN FARM Darrel and Anthea Archer
3310 Jackson Road, Duncan, British Columbia V9L 6N7 
Phone: (250) 746-4637 Fax: (250) 746-4317
e-mail info@fairburnfarm.bc.ca www.fairburnfarm.bc.ca
www.savethewaterbuffalo.com compiled by the community

November 23rd, 2000
The Honourable Jean Chretien,
Parliament Buildings,
Ottawa, Ontario, 

Sir:
Re: The Canadian Food Inspection Agency

We are currently undertaking a Judicial Review of Notice, issued in September by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), to remove or destroy purebred river water buffalo we imported from Denmark in January 2000 as the basis of a dairy herd for the production of Mozzarella di Bufala, semi-hard cheese, yogurt, ice cream as well secondary industries.

Risk assessments undertaken by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency indicate that there is very little risk from the animals during their time in Denmark. The fact that the original herd came from Bulgaria is the focus for concern. Lack of adequate documentation in Bulgaria is cited as the reason for questioning information supplied by Professor Aleko Alexiev, of the Buffalo Research Institute, Shoumen Bulgaria, President of Bulgarian Buffalo Association and Member of the Standing Committee of International Buffalo Federation. Concern has been raised that contaminated food could have been bought by Bulgaria. Dr. Alexiev has vehemently denied such allegations. We also have supporting documentation from The Buffalo Institute in Monterotundo, Italy, from the Veterinary Inspector in Copenhagen, Denmark, from the Ministry of Agriculture in Australia all stating that BSE has never been recorded in water buffalo as they have no requirement for protein enhanced feed, thriving well on straw and poor forage. In fact, according to Stats. Canada animal byproducts are imported into Canada from BSE countries on a regular basis and fed to animals in Canada indicating that there is a high risk from animals raised in Canada both to the health of food producing animals and potentially into the food chain to the Canadian consumer. Verification of this information is available through Stats. Canada and also in a report Risk Assessment on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy for Health Canada currently in draft form, prepared by Joan Orr. An affidavit from Joan Orr is also filed with the Federal Court under No. T-1869-00 Vancouver Registry accompanying the Memorandum of Fact and Law submitted by Simon Fothergill, of Roberts & Baker, Barristers & Solicitors, Vancouver. The Court date is December 6th, 2000 in Federal Court, Vancouver.

We thoroughly researched the importation of water buffalo in January 1999 and prepared a Proposal which was couriered to the Honourable Lyle Vanclief, Dr. Willis in Winnipeg the Canadian representative of the Office des Epizooties (OIE), The Hon. Corky Evans, Minister of Agriculture and Food in British Columbia. A risk assessment on the importation of water buffalo from Romania (48 young animals) was stalled, accordingly, we imported 19 from Denmark, eight of which have since calved. All import tests have been successfully completed and we have paid all accounts to the CFIA for such testing. Building of the new barn and dairy was halted in September when the Notice was received from the CFIA and monies for this purpose have gone to legal fees. The animals have been in quarantine since their arrival and conditions are cramped especially with several heifers due to calve shortly. Our situation is intolerable and inexcusable. 
The Hon. Jean Chretien Page 2 November 23rd, 2000


We have followed guidelines for innovation and entrepreneurism as advocated by both the Federal and Provincial Governments yet the unfounded actions of the CFIA have the potential to destroy our second generation farm that has a profound impact on the local community. We have been involved with the agriculture and farming associations for many years and have been instrumental in planning conferences, workshops within the area and on our farm. We host workshops for local associations including mental health and social services, Feast of Fields bringing the culinary world and the general public to the farm where local food is grown. A water buffalo dairy is a continuation of our sustainable agriculture philosophy begun by Jack and Mollie Archer in 1954 and continued by their son Darrel and myself.

We are aware that the CFIA has indicated that, although previously challenged, no Notice issued by the CFIA has ever been overturned and they will take us to the Supreme Court of Canada in Appeals if necessary to prevent this being a precedent setting case. You should be aware that Denmark has agreed to the return of the water buffalo and currently negotiations are underway with the British government to allow the animals and our family into the UK. There is a grant from the European Union to encourage water buffalo dairies and we would be eligible due to my British birthright. There are cooperatives in the UK for groups of water buffalo farms and the milk and meat are recognized as being BSE free. We hope to establish such a thriving industry in Canada, beginning in the Cowichan Valley on Vancouver Island which is currently depressed in resource industries. Only a strong political will can overturn the Notice of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which we have been told is considered a rogue agency and whose senior counsel has admitted that the agency is not accountable to the government for its actions.

We request that you consider the Risk Assessment on Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathy referred to earlier in this letter. It is essential that problems indicated in that report are addressed as soon as possible to prevent or curtail Canada's own outbreak of diseases in animals and humans related to contaminated feed and unregulated importation of questionable animal byproducts. The European Union recently issued a report indicating that accurate documentation is not being maintained on Canadian beef which would make it difficult to trace source of infection within the beef industry. We are aware that an identification programme is set to begin on January 1st, 2001, however, this is not soon enough.

Sincerely,



Anthea and Darrel Archer

Copy: The Hon. Lyle Vanclief,
The Hon. Allan Rock
The Hon. Stockwell Day,
The Hon. Joe Clark
The Hon. Corky Evans
The Hon. Ed Conroy
Reed Elley, incumbent MP , Alliance, Cowichan Nanaimo
Marshall Cooper, candidate Liberal, Cowichan Nanaimo
Cynthia Hemsworth, candidate Conservative, Cowichan Nanaimo