ANNOUNCEMENT - Advancing Farm Animal Care through Market Relevant Codes
(Ottawa) 31 July 2014 - The Canadian Animal Health Coalition (CAHC) and National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) are pleased to accept support from the federal government for a project that will allow Canadian animal agriculture to continue to address the increasing public interest and concern regarding farm animal welfare.
On behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, Parliamentary Secretary Pierre Lemieux announced the funding approval for the Agri-Marketing Program – Assurance Systems Stream project, Market Relevant Codes and Communication Leadership on Thursday, July 31, 2014, at the University of Guelph.
“Our Government is proud to support the poultry industry in achieving the highest possible standards for animal health,” said Parliamentary Secretary Pierre Lemieux. “Consumers have increasingly high expectations for animal welfare and this investment will help the industry enhance its competitiveness both at home and abroad through promotion of assurance systems that will benefit the entire value chain.”
This investment of up to $2.2 million will help improve farm animal well-being and address the expectations of consumers and the public. Approved activities include finishing two poultry Codes of Practice (chicken/turkey/hatching/egg and layer) that were initiated under Agri-Flexibility funding, as well as developing / updating three additional Codes of Practice. NFACC’s information sharing capacity will be further developed to promote Canada’s national animal welfare Code development system and the Codes developed through it.
“Responsible livestock care is important to everyone, from the animals themselves to producers and consumers,” said Edouard Asnong, Chair of the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC). “We are pleased the Government of Canada has chosen to invest in this project to help improve farm animal well-being and address expectations of consumers and the marketplace.”
“CAHC has been successful in bringing groups together for common purposes, including establishing the National Farm Animal Care Council and providing support for its continued development,” said Jennifer MacTavish, Chair of the Canadian Animal Health Coalition. “CAHC thanks the Federal Government for its support for the project and is committed to facilitating the successful outcomes that support farmed animal health and welfare, alongside farmed animal production and trade”.
NFACC, working with the secretariat support of the CAHC, provides a vehicle for ensuring a national coordinated approach on farm animal care among all stakeholders across the entire value chain. For more information about NFACC, visit www.nfacc.ca.
CAHC is a partnership of organizations all recognizing a shared responsibility for an effective Canadian animal health system.For more information about CAHC, visit www.animalhealth.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Mark Beaven
CAHC Executive Director
mark@animalhealth.ca
519-292-0585
Jackie Wepruk
NFACC General Manager
nfacc@xplornet.com
403-783-4066
