Farmscape for December 2, 2005  (Episode 1984)

The Canadian Pork Council  says swine producers are clear, they want a national swine traceability system that's both cost effective and internationally accepted.

A delegation from the Canadian Pork Council's Hog Identification and traceability Working group completed round two of public consultations yesterday into a proposed national system for tracking the movement of swine within Canada.

The system is intended to allow hogs to be traced back to their farm of origin in the event of a foreign animal disease outbreak.

Working group Chair Dennis McKerracher says producers have been extremely supportive of the effort.

Clip-Dennis McKerracher-Canadian Pork Council  

Some of the reoccurring themes was having a system that was costs effective.

The producers want a system that answers the guidelines that the World Health Organization have laid out.

They want as system that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency can have our trading partners sign off on.

We're looking at the phased in approach.

We heard loud and clear that the phased in approach is appreciated and desired.

We also have been requested to look at some of our proposals again to make sure they're sound.

Another main point that was raised in many provinces was making sure that our large neighbors to the south are informed with what we're doing.

We have to maintain a level of dialogue with our neighbors to the south as well as Mexico.

Producers do recognize that we are operating in an integrated North American market.

Producers realize that the traceability system is being developed for foreign animal disease mitigation as well as food safety crisis but access is also key.

McKerracher says comments and suggestions will be reviewed during a December 20th meeting in Ottawa and it's hoped the working group will be ready to recommend an implementation strategy to the CPC executive committee next month.

Full implementation is targeted for January 2008.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.

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