Farmscape for June 2, 2006 (Episode 2156) In an effort to help livestock producers familiarize themselves with proposed changes to Canadian animal transport regulations, the Alberta Farm Animal Care Council has prepared a new resource. In December, following about five years of informal discussion, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency indicated its desire to consider amendments to the health of animals regulation under the Health of Animals Act to better reflect current industry standards and to consider other changes since the legislation came into effect in 1975. Eight key areas of change are being considered and, as part of what's being described as a pre-consultation, CFIA will be accepting stakeholder comments and suggestions until at least the end of July. Alberta Farm Animal Care Council general manager Susan Church says, to bring producers up to speed, the organization has prepared a tool which explains what's being proposed. Clip-Susan Church-Alberta Farm Animal Care Council We felt it important that the industry be well aware of what the suggested or proposed changes are and felt that there hadn't been a great enough understanding so our organization sat down and prepared a little chart. Here's what they're proposing, for example clarifying overcrowding those are their words or clarifying bedding, then we have showed the industry what our current law says and, more importantly, what the current codes of practice say with regards to transportation for different species. Then, from there, we've tried to identify what some of the problem areas may or may not be and some recommendations or suggestions so we've had a lot of good discussion using this document as a frame work. Church acknowledges the need to modernize the regulations however, she stresses, what's needed is regulations that will make sure those who are not doing a good job moving livestock improve without making the job harder. For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane. *Farmscape is a presentation of Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council |