Farmscape for June 1, 2006 (Episode 2155)
The Alberta Farm Animal Care Council is urging the federal government to ensure any new regulations under the Health of Animals Act pertaining to livestock transportation will be flexible enough to accommodate changing industry practices and standards.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is considering amending the section of the health of animals regulation which deals with the transport of livestock under the Health of Animals Act to reflect changes that have occurred since the regulation was first introduced about 30 years ago.
Alberta Farm Animal Care Council general manager Susan Church agrees the regulation needs to be modernized but, she notes, one key concern is a suggestion that the revised regulation will contain more prescriptive information.
Clip-Susan Church-Alberta Farm Animal Care Council
We feel quite strongly that the new regulation or any changes in the regulation should refer to codes of practice that the industry have developed or are developing because the codes stay current and can change and show how the industry changes and grows based on new information, new research, new trucks, new methods of transportation.
The regulation is set in stone.
In this case, where there's so many variables involved, weather, type of animal, distance, driving conditions, type of vehicle, we feel it's very important to look back at the codes of practice that are very well done and enable the industry, working with CFIA to include changes as our industry evolves.
Church maintains what's needed is not more regulations that will make the job of moving livestock harder but rather regulations that will make sure those who aren't doing a good job do.
She notes all indications are that the industry is doing a good job and she's encouraging the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to work with industry to gain a better understanding of current best Canadian management practices.
For Farmscape, I'm Bruce Cochrane.
*Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council