National Farm Animal Care Council is delivering leadership in farm animal care
(Ottawa) 29 Apr 2013 – The National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) has just released its Project Achievements Report 2012 / 2013. The report summarizes how federal government project support through Agriculture and Agri-Food’s Agricultural Flexibility Fund has enabled NFACC to engage stakeholders in addressing animal welfare and meeting market expectations. The report is available at www.nfacc.ca.
Codes of Practice are a high-profile and potentially powerful tool to meet rising expectations around livestock welfare. NFACC has led and coordinated the development of newly updated Codes, which are designed to support responsible animal care practices and keep everyone involved in livestock care and handling on the same page.
This has been a productive period in the history of Canada’s Codes of Practice. An unprecedented eight Codes of Practice are simultaneously under development:
- The mink, fox and equine Codes have all undergone public comment periods and are being prepared for publication
- The beef Code has undergone its public comment period and the Code Development Committee is now considering the feedback received toward finalizing the Code
- The pig Code is scheduled to begin its public comment period on June 1, 2013
- The sheep Code will undergo its public comment period during the summer of 2013
- Both the poultry Codes (meat and layers) were initiated in 2012.
NFACC and its members recognize that Canadian food companies increasingly view farm animal welfare as a critical part of their sustainability agenda. NFACC provides a forum for all stakeholders to participate and have a voice in Canada’s approach to farm animal welfare.
NFACC’s partners include virtually all livestock and poultry commodity and processor associations in Canada, the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, Canadian Restaurant and Food Service Association, and federal and provincial governments. In April 2013, the Retail Council of Canada (RCC) became the most recent addition to NFACC’s membership.
These networks and relationships convey market signals from consumers and food industries to farmers. In turn, food industries and others are informed of the practical considerations for improving farm animal welfare.
Contentious animal welfare issues require balanced scientific review and consensus building. Enormous progress is being made in tackling the tough issues. The Codes provide a clear reference for livestock industries and Canada’s food industry as a whole.
NFACC represents stakeholders working together to improve farm animal welfare, while driving innovation and marketplace success says Jackie Wepruk, NFACC General Manager. "I’d like to thank all those involved in the Code development process for their extraordinary dedication. The Codes have benefited enormously from the knowledge, experience, patience, and collaborative spirit each person brings to the table. The individual commitment across stakeholder groups is truly what sets Canada’s processes apart in the world."
NFACC’s partners and stakeholders can point to the Codes in addressing questions and rising expectations from consumers, the marketplace and society in general, both domestically and internationally.
Funding for the Codes of Practice is provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Agricultural Flexibility Fund, under the Addressing Domestic and International Market Expectations Relative to Farm Animal Welfare initiative, as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.
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For more information contact:
Jackie Wepruk, General Manager, National Farm Animal Care Council, (403) 783-4066, nfacc@xplornet.com
Edouard Asnong, National Farm Animal Care Council Chair, (450) 248-2375, easnong@hotmail.com
