ACA™ for Canadian Hog Producers
Today consumers are looking for assurances that all animals raised
for food are treated humanely thoughout their life. Although Canadian
pork producers have followed a code of practice for nearly twenty
years, this in itself is not enough to assure consumers. Pork producers
need to demonstrate that they are following the standards in the
codes of practice – and this can only be accomplished through an
auditable, third party program such as the Animal Care Assessment
(ACA).
Canada’s pork producers have one of the best reputations in the world.
And that’s no accident. Becoming an ACA certified producer demonstrates
the commitment of Canadian pork producers and provides the proof needed
to gain and maintain market access both domestically and internationally.
Do you have questions? Check out our FAQs »
The ACA Approach — What’s Covered »
CPC Response to Centre for Food Integrity’s Animal Care Review Panel
Dec. 18, 2012 (Ottawa, ON) The Canadian Pork Council (CPC) has reviewed the findings of the Animal Care Review Panel formed by the Centre for Food Integrity to examine undercover video footage from a Manitoba hog farm. The CPC has put together the following five-step action plan to address both the areas for improvement identified by the Panel and other activities viewed as essential.
- The Panel identified three areas for improvement – consistent use of best practices around euthanizing piglets, disrespectful treatment of a downer sow and ensuring crates are properly designed, built and maintained to minimize the occurrences when sows get trapped.
The CPC will share the Panel report with the farm and request action be taken on the specific issues identified. The CPC will follow-up to ensure action has been taken.
The CPC will also send a copy of the Animal Care Review Panel report to the Chief Veterinary Office (CVO) in Manitoba, the provincial regulatory authority with jurisdiction to inspect and enforce. It should be noted that as soon as the video was received by Manitoba Pork Council, it was immediately sent to the Chief Veterinary Officer for investigation.
In addition, as part of the Animal Care Assessment components of the CQA program, the CPC will initiate a full review of the farm’s compliance and take action as needed, including a full validation of the farm.
- The level of disrespect towards animals by employees on the farm shown in the video cannot be tolerated. The CPC and its members will examine how education and training needs can be strengthened within the sector as these are key elements with the Animal Care Assessment.
- The revision of the Code of Practice is the forum to address standard industry practices. The revision was requested by the Canadian Pork Council and the process has been underway since 2010. Industry practices are being reviewed, including housing for pregnant sows and castration. The process is nearing completion and the new Code will be available for public comment in 2013.
A wide range of interest groups are involved from producers, processors, veterinarians, scientists and animal welfare groups.
The Code process develops best practices for pigs based on:
- best available science
- what is good for the animal
- good for the producer
- acceptable to the public
We invite everyone interested in the hog sector to comment on the draft document once published.
- To ensure that best practices are being followed, the industry developed the Animal Care Assessment (ACA) tool in 2005. This program will be thoroughly reviewed to determine how to prevent what was seen in the video in the future.
- The CPC will remind its members that it is everyone’s responsibility to report suspected cases of animal abuse. Anyone that is a witness to evidence of abuse must immediately report it to the relevant authorities. This is the case for employees, farm owners, feed suppliers, animal rights activists – everyone. In this case, it was the pork industry (Manitoba Pork) that submitted the undercover video to the provincial regulatory authority.
For more information, please contact:
Gary Stordy
Public Relations Manager
Canadian Pork Council
613-236-9239 Ext. 277
stordy@cpc-ccp.com
For information on the Centre for Food Integrity, please visit www.foodintegrity.org.
Statement regarding Animal Care Review Panel and Process »
CPC Statement regarding W5 episode on hog industry »
CPC Statement on news coverage on the pork sector »
CQA to include Animal Care Assessment
Find out more »
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