The Canadian Trucking Alliance (CTA) is calling for more fairness in how the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CIFA) levies fines on livestock haulers when it comes to the in-transit death of hogs and lost tags in-transit.
Currently, if three or more hogs die in-transit, the assumption is that there was mal-practice — running over capacity, reckless driving — on the part of the driver. As autopsies are rarely if ever performed on hogs, drivers had no way to dispute the charges.
However, a new study conducted by the University of Guelph and the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture is showing that an overwhelming majority of in-transit losses of market hogs are due to pre-existing heart conditions in the hog.
"This point has long since been an issue for those represented by the Livestock Transporter's Division of the CTA, as many have emphatically insisted that they abide by industry best-practices and should not be held liable for these deaths — now we have the research to prove it," said Stephen Laskowski, senior vice president, CTA.
Based on the new research, the CTA is asking CFIA to review its enforcement policy regarding in-transit losses and hogs. "Unless CFIA can dispute these findings," said Laskowski, "we see no reason why trucking companies should be paying these fines."
There also needs to be more fairness when it comes to fining for lost tags in the transit of animals, CTA said.
As it stands now, producers, transporters and receivers are subject to enforcement should an un-tagged animal be transported.
"It's like fining a car owner for a vehicle manufacturer defect," Laskowski explained.
"It is the CTA's position that because the transporter is in no way responsible for the tagging process, they should not be held liable for failures in this area, as is current practice. Fines may need to be applied when lost tags occur, but apply them to the individual who's behavior can actually change the outcome," said Laskowski.
