Diseases are usually grouped into different categories. This page presents the classification proposed by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). The definitions have been extracted from the following documents:

Glossary of Terms proposed by the "National Sheep On-Farm Biosecurity Standard"
Terrestrial Animal Diseases

Reportable diseases are defined under regulations enforced by CFIA. In cases of a suspected or confirmed case of a reportable disease outbreak, and in most cases of a FAD, zoonotic or emerging disease, CFIA is responsible for ensuring that required procedures are followed. A list of reportable diseases is available on the CFIA website. Federally Reportable Diseases for Terrestrial Animals in Canada.

See the list of reportable diseases on the CFIA website

These reportable diseases are expected to be absent from Canadian farms. However some of them are know to be present and they are under close surveillance.

See the list of reportable diseases that are presently known to be present in Canada.

In general, immediately notifiable diseases are diseases exotic to Canada for which there are no control or eradication programs.

The CFIA can undertake control measures for such diseases when notified of their presence in Canada. This category also includes some rare indigenous diseases. A herd or flock of origin must be certified as being free from these diseases in order to meet import requirements of trading partners.

See the list of exotic diseases on the CFIA website.

Annually notifiable diseases are diseases for which Canada must submit an annual report to the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) indicating their presence within Canada. In general, they are diseases that are present in Canada, but are not classified as reportable or immediately notifiable.

See the list of diseases with annual notification on the CFIA website