Canada’s Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Hatching Eggs, Breeders, Chickens and Turkeys to be updated

Canada’s Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Hatching Eggs, Breeders, Chickens and Turkeys to be updated

NEWS RELEASE

For immediate release:

(Ottawa) October 4 2024 – The National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) is pleased to announce that Turkey Farmers of Canada (TFC), Chicken Farmers of Canada (CFC), the Canadian Hatching Egg Producers (CHEP), and Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors (CPEP) have collectively initiated an update to the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Hatching Eggs, Breeders, Chickens, and Turkeys. The update will be guided by NFACC’s Code development process.

The Code development process includes a survey, launched at the outset of each Code, to capture top-of-mind welfare concerns from any and all stakeholders. The input received will help the Code Committee understand the kinds of issues people wish to see considered in the Code’s update. Everyone is invited to participate; the survey for this Code will be open until October 25, 2024 and is available at www.nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice/chickens-turkeys-and-breeders.

In a collective statement TFC, CFC, CHEP, and CPEP noted, “Canadian poultry producers are dedicated to providing exceptional care for their birds. By using the latest scientific reviews to update the Code for hatching eggs, breeders, chickens, and turkeys, the poultry sectors look forward to working with our partners at NFACC in updating this Code.”

“The Codes are the foundation of the poultry sectors’ on-farm animal care programs. Canadian hatching egg farmers, hatcheries, chicken farmers, and turkey farmers all follow national, mandatory animal care programs that are based on the Code requirements.”

Canada’s Codes of Practice provide critical guidance for the care and handling of farm animals. They reflect our national understanding of animal care requirements and recommended practices and serve as educational tools, reference materials for regulations, and the foundation for farm animal care assessment programs.  

“The Code development process helps diverse groups work together to improve the lives of farmed animals,” says Hans Kristensen, NFACC Chair. “Codes of Practice provide farmers with a recognized framework to demonstrate their commitment to welfare standards that are informed by science, support public trust, and are practical to implement on-farm."

Five Codes – beef cattle, equine, pig, sheep, and poultry – are being updated. The pullet and layer Code is being amended. Visit www.nfacc.ca for more details and a timeline outlining the steps and progress made on the respective Codes. 

Financial support was provided through the AgriAssurance Program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.

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 issues in Canada and operates as a Division of Animal Health Canada. For more information on NFACC, visit www.nfacc.ca. 

About the Industry Groups

Turkey Farmers of Canada (TFC) is the national organization representing Canada’s 510+ turkey farmers that encourages cooperation throughout the Canadian turkey industry. Canadian turkey farmers are committed to ensuring the humane care and respectful treatment of turkeys while providing wholesome and safe food to consumers.

Chicken Farmers of Canada (CFC) ensures that their 2,800 farmers produce the right amount of fresh, safe, high-quality chicken to meet Canada’s needs. CFC plays a key role in developing, partnering and managing programs for Canada’s chicken farmers that prove its producers continue to grow the high-quality chicken that Canadians trust.

Canadian Hatching Egg Producers (CHEP) is the national representative of over 200 broiler hatching egg producers across 8 member provinces. They are dedicated to animal welfare, food safety initiatives and opportunities to improve the agricultural industry.

Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors (CPEP)  is the voice of a sustainable poultry and egg processing industry, feeding Canadians safe and nutritious food. They support the work of their members, who buy their products from Canadian farmers and transform them into the high-quality, nutritious chicken, turkey, and egg products that Canadians know and love.

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For more information contact: 

Jackie Wepruk, Division Director, National Farm Animal Care Council

nfacc@xplornet.com, www.nfacc.ca

Jean Lavallée, Director of Animal Care and Research, Chicken Farmers of Canada

jlavallee@chicken.ca, www.chickenfarmers.ca  

Skyler Veazey, Director of Regulatory and Technical Affairs, Canadian Poultry & Egg Processors

skyler@cpep-tvoc.ca; www.cpep-tvoc.ca

Amanda Pufall, Animal Welfare Officer, Canadian Hatching Egg Producers

apufall@chep-poic.ca, www.chep-poic.ca

Caroline Gonano, Associate Manager – Technical Affairs, Science & Regulation, Turkey Farmers of Canada

cgonano@tfc-edc.ca; www.turkeyfarmersofcanada.ca