CFIA - Milk sampling and testing for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Canada (Date modified: 2025-12-05) - All samples negative

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Milk sampling and testing for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Canada
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Raw (unpasteurized) milk at processing plants

As of December 2, 2025, CFIA laboratories have tested 7,178 samples of raw milk from trucks arriving at processing plants in all provinces across Canada. All samples have tested negative. The samples tested monthly include milk collected from approximately 2,700 dairy farms across Canada. For more information on the number and distribution of Canada's dairy farms, see – Number of farms, dairy cows and dairy heifers.

This is another proactive surveillance measure to monitor Canadian dairy cattle for HPAI and helps ensure that HPAI is caught early if introduced in the national herd.

Results of the Canada-wide testing of raw (unpasteurized) milk samples collected at processing plants are listed below.

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Date modified: 2025-12-05

https://inspection.canada.ca/en/anim...ng-and-testing

[Pathfinder]

Milk sampling and testing for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Canada
...
Raw (unpasteurized) milk at processing plants

As of November 4, 2025, CFIA laboratories have tested 6,643 samples of raw milk from trucks arriving at processing plants in all provinces across Canada. All samples have tested negative. The samples tested monthly include milk collected from approximately 2,700 dairy farms across Canada. For more information on the number and distribution of Canada's dairy farms, see – Number of farms, dairy cows and dairy heifers.

This is another proactive surveillance measure to monitor Canadian dairy cattle for HPAI and helps ensure that HPAI is caught early if introduced in the national herd.

Results of the Canada-wide testing of raw (unpasteurized) milk samples collected at processing plants are listed below.

...
Date modified: 2025-11-07

https://inspection.canada.ca/en/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/diseases/reportable/avian-influenza/latest-bird-flu-situation/hpai-cattle/milk-sampling-and-testing

[Pathfinder]

Milk sampling and testing for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Canada
...
Raw (unpasteurized) milk at processing plants

As of October 1, 2025, CFIA laboratories have tested 6,126 samples of raw milk from trucks arriving at processing plants in all provinces across Canada. All samples have tested negative. The samples tested monthly include milk collected from approximately 2,700 dairy farms across Canada. For more information on the number and distribution of Canada's dairy farms, see – Number of farms, dairy cows and dairy heifers.

This is another proactive surveillance measure to monitor Canadian dairy cattle for HPAI and helps ensure that HPAI is caught early if introduced in the national herd.

Results of the Canada-wide testing of raw (unpasteurized) milk samples collected at processing plants are listed below.

...
Date modified: 2025-10-06

https://inspection.canada.ca/en/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/diseases/reportable/avian-influenza/latest-bird-flu-situation/hpai-cattle/milk-sampling-and-testing

[Pathfinder]

Milk sampling and testing for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Canada
...
Raw (unpasteurized) milk at processing plants

As of September 5, 2025, CFIA laboratories have tested 5,602 samples of raw milk from trucks arriving at processing plants in all provinces across Canada. All samples have tested negative. The samples tested monthly include milk collected from approximately 2,700 dairy farms across Canada. For more information on the number and distribution of Canada's dairy farms, see – Number of farms, dairy cows and dairy heifers.

This is another proactive surveillance measure to monitor Canadian dairy cattle for HPAI and helps ensure that HPAI is caught early if introduced in the national herd.

Results of the Canada-wide testing of raw (unpasteurized) milk samples collected at processing plants are listed below.

...
Date modified: 2025-09-09

https://inspection.canada.ca/en/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/diseases/reportable/avian-influenza/latest-bird-flu-situation/hpai-livestock/milk-sampling-and-testing

[Pathfinder]

Milk sampling and testing for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Canada

On this page

• Pasteurized commercial milk (sold at retail)
• Raw (unpasteurized) milk at processing plants
• Milk pasteurization study
• How we are responding to HPAI in cattle
• Testing samples at non-CFIA laboratories

As part of the Government of Canada's One Health approach, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Health Canada, is taking proactive measures to monitor Canadian dairy cows for HPAI.

Commercially sold milk and milk products remain safe to consume. In Canada, milk must be pasteurized before sale. The pasteurization process kills harmful bacteria and viruses, including HPAI, ensuring milk and milk products are safe to drink and eat. Pasteurized commercial milk (sold at retail)


As of September 5, 2024, CFIA laboratories have tested 1,211 retail milk samples from across Canada. All samples have tested negative.

Results of the Canada-wide testing of retail milk samples are listed below.

Atlantic provinces	302	All negative
Ontario	307	All negative
Quebec	302	All negative
Western provinces	300	All negative

Raw (unpasteurized) milk at processing plants


As of June 30, 2025, CFIA laboratories have tested 4,544 samples of raw milk from trucks arriving at processing plants in all provinces across Canada. All samples have tested negative. The samples tested monthly include milk collected from approximately 2,700 dairy farms across Canada. For more information on the number and distribution of Canada's dairy farms, see – Number of farms, dairy cows and dairy heifers.

This is another proactive surveillance measure to monitor Canadian dairy cattle for HPAI and helps ensure that HPAI is caught early if introduced in the national herd.

Results of the Canada-wide testing of raw (unpasteurized) milk samples collected at processing plants are listed below.

Atlantic provinces	315	All negative
Ontario	1,338	All negative
Quebec	1,618	All negative
Western provinces	1,273	All negative

Milk pasteurization study


Under the leadership of Health Canada, CFIA laboratories carried out a study in May and June 2024 on the effectiveness of pasteurization to inactivate HPAI virus in milk. Consistent with similar studies published internationally, the results showed that pasteurization is effective.

Additional information is available on Health Canada's website: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and food safety.


How we are responding to HPAI in cattle


In Canada, HPAI is a reportable disease in all animals. All suspected cases must be reported to the CFIA. There are currently no confirmed detections of HPAI in cattle in Canada.

Learn more about protective measures in place for HPAI in livestock in Canada.


Testing samples at non-CFIA laboratories


Any laboratories involved in testing or research and development activities that require working with samples of the HPAI virus must comply with biosafety, biocontainment and reporting requirements from the CFIA and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

Biosafety advisory: Avian influenza A(H5N1) (June 28, 2024)

Any non-CFIA laboratories that are testing animals, an animal specimen or sample, or an animal product or by-product (including milk) must notify the CFIA if they detect avian influenza virus fragments or antibodies in these samples.

More information:

• For laboratories involved in avian influenza science and research
• Facts about avian influenza

Date modified: 2025-07-04

https://inspection.canada.ca/en/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/diseases/reportable/avian-influenza/latest-bird-flu-situation/hpai-livestock/milk-sampling-and-testing

[Pathfinder]

Milk sampling and testing for highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Canada

On this page

• Pasteurized commercial milk (sold at retail)
• Raw (unpasteurized) milk at processing plants
• Milk pasteurization study
• How we are responding to HPAI in cattle
• Testing samples at non-CFIA laboratories

As part of the Government of Canada's One Health approach, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in collaboration with the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) and Health Canada, is taking proactive measures to monitor Canadian dairy cows for HPAI.

Commercially sold milk and milk products remain safe to consume. In Canada, milk must be pasteurized before sale. The pasteurization process kills harmful bacteria and viruses, including HPAI, ensuring milk and milk products are safe to drink and eat.

Pasteurized commercial milk (sold at retail)

As of September 5, 2024, CFIA laboratories have tested 1,211 retail milk samples from across Canada. All samples have tested negative.

Results of the Canada-wide testing of retail milk samples are listed below.

Atlantic provinces	302	All negative
Ontario	307	All negative
Quebec	302	All negative
Western provinces	300	All negative

Raw (unpasteurized) milk at processing plants

As of November 4, 2024, CFIA laboratories have tested 391 samples of raw milk arriving at processing plants in all provinces across Canada. All samples have tested negative.

This is another proactive surveillance measure to monitor Canadian dairy cattle for HPAI and helps ensure that HPAI is caught early if introduced in the national herd.

Results of the Canada-wide testing of raw (unpasteurized) milk samples at processing plants are listed below.

Atlantic provinces	58	All negative
Ontario	68	All negative
Quebec	78	All negative
Western provinces	187	All negative

Milk pasteurization study

Under the leadership of Health Canada, CFIA laboratories carried out a study in May and June 2024 on the effectiveness of pasteurization to inactivate HPAI virus in milk. Consistent with similar studies published internationally, the results showed that pasteurization is effective.

Additional information is available on Health Canada's website: Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) and food safety.

How we are responding to HPAI in cattle

In Canada, HPAI is a reportable disease in all animals. All suspected cases must be reported to the CFIA. There are currently no confirmed detections of HPAI in cattle in Canada.

Learn more about protective measures in place for HPAI in livestock in Canada.

Testing samples at non-CFIA laboratories

Any laboratories involved in testing or research and development activities that require working with samples of the HPAI virus must comply with biosafety, biocontainment and reporting requirements from the CFIA and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).

Biosafety advisory: Avian influenza A(H5N1) (June 28, 2024)

Any non-CFIA laboratories that are testing animals, an animal specimen or sample, or an animal product or by-product (including milk) must notify the CFIA if they detect avian influenza virus fragments or antibodies in these samples.

More information:

• For laboratories involved in avian influenza science and research
• Facts about avian influenza

Date modified: 2024-11-07

https://inspection.canada.ca/en/animal-health/terrestrial-animals/diseases/reportable/avian-influenza/latest-bird-flu-situation/hpai-livestock/milk-sampling-and-testing