NFACC Information Update June 2025
In this issue: 
UPDATES ON THE CODES OF PRACTICE UNDER REVISION/AMENDMENT
Beef Cattle Code Update
The beef cattle Code Committee (CC) met in Calgary in May for a productive two-day meeting. Online meetings by Code subcommittees throughout the spring provided valuable content and chapter updates for the group to review while in person.
The CC continued their discussion on transport, essentially coming to consensus on the transport chapter of the updated Code of Practice. The group focused their discussions on care and handling practices before and after transport that support animal welfare of cattle when being transported.
Building on previous conversations, the CC also made substantial progress in updating the animal husbandry chapter of the Code of Practice. The group had focused conversations on animal handling, pain control for various management procedures, and calving management, coming to consensus on many of the requirements and recommended practices within this chapter. Discussion on this section will continue throughout the summer, as the subcommittee continues to meet, discuss, and finalize content.
The Scientific Committee (SC) completed an additional two chapters of their report (Weaning and Animal Health Conditions). The SC Chair presented a summary of both chapters to the CC, with the research helping to inform discussion on the CC’s approach to these topics within the updated Code. The SC has now written all chapters of their research report on priority welfare issues. The report will soon be peer reviewed before being finalized and released.
In addition to detailed discussions on the transport and husbandry sections of the Code of Practice, the CC also discussed next steps for the remainder of the Code update process. This included continual discussions on Code content by the subcommittees throughout the summer, as well as planning and preparations for the next in-person meeting. The CC continues to give consideration to the priorities identified at the outset of the project, including those identified in the top-of-mind survey.
The next in person meeting for the Code Committee is scheduled for October 2025, after which it is anticipated that the Code will be prepared for the Public Comment Period.
Previous progress updates can be found here.
Equine Code Update
The equine Code Committee (CC) held its third in-person meeting in April 2025 in Vancouver. As with meeting #2, subcommittee leads led discussions involving the full CC regarding proposed amendments, additions, and deletions to existing Code content. Deliberations were very collaborative and highly productive. Discussions also acknowledged that noteworthy changes have taken place within the industry over the past decade.
Shortly before the meeting, CC members received a final draft copy of the Scientific Committee Report. During the meeting, members were provided with an overview of the next steps for the report (e.g., peer review) and a series of guidelines to follow when reviewing all draft content. Once again, the Chair of the Scientific Committee provided the CC with a presentation of their summary findings regarding priority welfare topics jointly agreed upon by both committees during meeting #1.
As a team-building exercise, the CC was taken on a group tour of a well-known and highly equine-centric neighbourhood in Vancouver. Pedagogically, the tour enabled CC members to see first-hand, and to reflect upon, a variety of unique care and handling needs associated with maintaining equine well-being in the West Coast environment.
By the conclusion of day two, plans were in place to increase the frequency of on-line subcommittee and CC meetings to help ensure that all chapter content will be fully ready for final review during face-to-face meeting #4 (to be held in August). Meeting #4 will also be the final meeting prior to the eventual launch of the 60-day Public Comment Period.
Previous progress updates can be found here.
Sheep Code Update
Over the past few months, subcommittees have been actively engaged in reviewing their respective sections following the December in-person meeting. These efforts have involved robust discussions and thoughtful examination of complex issues, as each group begins drafting proposed revisions to the Code.
Progress remains on schedule, with each subcommittee preparing to present their prospective edits to the full Code Committee for deliberation at the upcoming in-person meeting in late July.
In parallel, the Scientific Committee has been diligently advancing its work and is on track to present one chapter of its report at the July meeting. This chapter will serve as a valuable input to inform subcommittee discussions and revisions following that session. The complete list of priority welfare issues for the Sheep Scientific Committee report is available here.
Previous progress updates can be found here.
Hatching Eggs, Breeders, Chickens, and Turkeys Update
The first in-person meeting for the Code of Practice update on the Care and Handling of Hatching Eggs, Breeders, Chickens, and Turkeys was held in Ottawa in late March, with both the Code Committee (CC) and Scientific Committee (SC) in attendance.
This two-day meeting had three key objectives:
- Establish Priority Welfare Issues (PWIs):
Ahead of the meeting, CC and SC members submitted suggestions for potential PWIs. The SC conducted a preliminary scan of available and emerging research to inform the discussion. Committee members also reviewed input from the previous public comment period and the top-of-mind survey. After productive discussions, the committee reached consensus on the final list of PWIs for the SC report. - Establish Foundations for Working Together:
Through a series of interactive discussions and team-based activities, participants began building trust and aligning on shared goals. A highlight was a spirited and engaging problem-solving challenge – reminiscent of an escape room – designed to encourage creative thinking, collaboration, and exploring multiple perspectives. Teams embraced the friendly competition with enthusiasm, experimenting with different strategies and learning from one another. While a few moments of frustration surfaced, the room was filled with energy, laughter, and lively conversation as participants worked together toward a common goal. The exercise set a positive tone for continued collaboration.
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| Team Mother Cluckers decoded the most numbers correctly. | Team Galloping Donkeys earned the highest score on the mission. |
- Initiate Work Planning:
Subcommittees were formed, and initial priority areas for revision were identified. Since the meeting, a comprehensive work plan has been developed, and subcommittee work is now underway. The SC has also begun work on its report based on the agreed PWIs. This process is now in motion and will continue over the next year as the committee conducts a thorough review of the scientific literature.
The results of the top-of-mind survey, which ran from October 4 – 26, 2024 are now available here. The survey aimed to capture top-of-mind welfare concerns from any and all stakeholders. The input received will help the Code Committee understand the kinds of issues people wish to see considered in the Code’s update.
Previous progress updates can be found here.
Pig Update
The official announcement for the pig Code’s update was released on May 15, 2025, along with a top-of-mind survey. Both the Code Committee and the Scientific Committee are in place; members can be found here.
An important preliminary step in this process is to invite the industry, general public, and all other interested individuals to submit their top-of-mind thoughts on the welfare of pigs. The top-of-mind survey was open from May 15th to June 4th. This input will help to inform the Code update.
Work is underway to schedule virtual orientation meetings for all committee members. It is anticipated that the first in-person meeting for this Code update will be in early Fall.
Pullets and Laying Hens Code Amendment
Following its second and final in-person meeting in January, during which the Code Committee arrived at consensus for all three amendment topics, the task of preparing the amendment for Public Comment Period (PCP) was left in the hands of the Code Manager and the NFACC team. This included completion of the peer review process of the Scientific Panel (SP) Report that summarized relevant scientific papers on all 3 amendments, as well as the copy-editing and translation processes that resulted in the SP Report being finalized in time for the PCP. In the meantime, on the Amendment side, efforts were underway to prepare the comment platform and the necessary accompanying documents in both English and French in order to meet the PCP launch date of March 27.
The PCP ended on May 26. Comments that were received are in the process of being summarized and shared with Code Committee members, who are scheduled to meet for the equivalent of nearly two full days over the course of four online meetings during the third week of June. After the committee has arrived at consensus on final amendments, the amended Code will be updated and is expected to be released in early summer.
Previous progress updates can be found here.
To see the overall timeline for all Code updates and the amendment, click here.
Financial support was provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada through the AgriAssurance program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
Questions or comments? Contact us at info@nfacc.ca.
NFACC is a division of Animal Health Canada
