Farmscape for November 5, 2005  (Episode 1958)

The Chair of the National Hog Identification and Traceability Working Committee reports Canada's swine producers have been highly supportive of efforts create a national ID and traceability system for Canada's livestock industry.

Round two of stakeholder consultations looking at a proposed national identification and traceability system for Canadian swine kicked off Tuesday in Saskatoon and traveled to Winnipeg Wednesday.

National Hog Identification and Traceability Working Committee Chair Dennis McKerracher says, while traceability will not prevent an animal disease from happening, it will provide a tool to react much quicker and minimize the impact of a foreign animal disease.

Clip-Dennis McKerracher-Canadian Pork Council

Traceability is a mitigation program for foreign animal disease and food safety.

Traceability also has a direct implication on access and competitiveness but we have to make sure that no one thinks it takes the place of biosecurity.

It will support biosecurity on the farm.

Producers of this country have done an excellent job and have invested heavily in biosecurity on the farm and we will also continue to encourage the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to maintain high levels of surveillance at international ports of entry.

Biosecurity keeps the problem out.

Traceability looks after the problem once it's here.

We're looking at traceability as a tool that will help us get back into the international market as soon as possible with the least amount of economic damage to our industry.

Consultations move to PEI today and will continue through November and into early December.

Members of the working committee will gather December 20th to review comments and suggestions from stakeholders, make any adjustments and set priorities for taking the process forward.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

       *Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council