Poultry Code of Practice Review to Begin Fall 2011
(Ottawa) 09 August 2011 – The National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) is pleased to announce the review and update of the Code of Practice for chickens, turkeys and breeders will begin in October. The Turkey Farmers of Canada (TFC), Chicken Farmers of Canada (CFC), Canadian Hatching Egg Producers (CHEP) and Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council (CPEPC) have requested NFACC initiate the review of their Code. The review and any subsequent changes will be guided by the NFACC’s Code development process.
Canada’s Codes of Practice are national guidelines for farm animal care requirements and recommended best practices. They serve as the foundation for ensuring that farm animals continue to be cared for using sound management and welfare practices that promote animal health and well being. The Codes serve as educational tools, reference materials for regulations, and as the foundation for industry animal care assessment programs.
“The NFACC Code development process ensures the poultry Code of Practice is relevant, current, developed with the input from all the stakeholders and is based on the latest science,” explains Jack Greydanus, Chair, CHEP and NFACC director. “In order to be effective, the Codes must be reviewed regularly and revised as production systems and management evolve,” says Robin Horel, CPEPC.
NFACC’s Code development process is a uniquely collaborative approach. The process ensures credibility and transparency through scientific rigour, stakeholder collaboration and consistency. “Stakeholder commitment is the key to ensuring that quality animal care standards are established and implemented,” says Edouard Asnong, Chair of NFACC.
The Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS) is one of many active participants in the process. “Developing and maintaining practical solutions to address farm animal welfare concerns requires a commitment from all parties involved to work together for progress and success,” says Geoff Urton, representing the CFHS. “NFACC’s Code development process provides a forum for this level of collaboration.”
The existing poultry Code of Practice was developed in 2003. Revisions to the Codes of Practice have been made possible by funding received from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Agri-Flexibility program. For more information on the Codes of Practice and NFACC’s Code development process visit www.nfacc.ca.
About NFACC
NFACC is a collaborative partnership of diverse stakeholders created in 2005 to share information and work together on farm animal care and welfare. It is the national lead for farm animal care in Canada. NFACC would like to acknowledge the Canadian Animal Health Coalition (CAHC) for their role in securing funding for this project.
About the Industry Groups
Turkey Farmers of Canada represents the interests of Canada’s 548 registered turkey farmers. Canadian turkey farmers take great pride in ensuring the humane treatment and care of their turkeys, while providing safe, high quality food to consumers.
Chicken Farmers of Canada is a national organization, funded completely through farmer levies paid according to the amount of chicken marketed. Established over 30 years ago, CFC is proud of its role in a continuing agriculture success story and for many great years of raising the quality chicken that Canadians trust.
Canadian Hatching Egg Producers was founded in 1986 and represents nearly 300 farmers from British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Québec. Its mission is to continue to grow a profitable broiler hatching egg industry in Canada in order to ensure a strong, efficient and competitive industry, and a dependable supply of quality broiler hatching eggs to the Canadian chicken industry.
Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council represents primary and further processors, of chicken and turkey, graders and further processors of eggs, and hatcheries in Canada. They have a voluntary membership of companies that process and market over 90% of Canada's chicken, turkey, eggs and hatching eggs.
Code of Practice updates initiated from 2010 to 2013 are part of the project: Addressing Domestic and International Market Expectations Relative to Farm Animal Welfare. Funding for this project is made available through the Federal Government’s AgriFlexibility Fund, which is delivered by Canada’s Economic Action Plan (EAP). The EAP focuses on strengthening the economy and securing Canada’s economic future. For more information on AgriFlexibility and Canada’s Economic Action Plan, please visit www.agr.gc.ca/agriflexibility and www.actionplan.gc.ca.
- 30 -
For more information contact:
Jackie Wepruk
General Manager & Project Coordinator
National Farm Animal Care Council
Phone: (403) 783-4066
nfacc@xplornet.com
www.nfacc.ca
Colleen McElwain
Associate Manager - Technical Affairs, Science & Regulation
Turkey Farmers of Canada
Phone: (905) 812-3140
cmcelwain@tfc-edc.ca
www.tfc-edc.ca
Lisa Bishop-Spencer
Manager of Communications
Chicken Farmers of Canada
Phone: (613) 566-5911
lbishop@chicken.ca
www.chicken.ca
Robin Horel
President & CEO
Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council
Phone: 613-724-6605
robinhorel@cpepc.ca
www.cpepc.ca
Victoria Sikur
Food Safety Officer
Canadian Hatching Egg Producers
Phone: 613.232.3023, ext. 2670
vsikur@chep-poic.ca
www.chep-poic.ca
