The general manager of the National Farm Animal Care Council says the process for updating Canada's Codes of Practice for raising livestock has ensured broad public participation in the effort.
The Pig Code of Practice is one of eight codes of practice for raising livestock in Canada that's being updated.
The Pig Code Development Committee will meet next month to discuss public comments on a draft updated Pig Code and finalize changes.
Jackie Wepruk,the general manager of the National Farm Animal Care Council,notes the process requires each update committee to be populated by a diverse range of expertise.
Jackie Wepruk-National Farm Animal Care Council:
The Pig Code Development Committee has a number of representatives and expertise.
The hog industry is represented by four producers,including the chair,from Saskatchewan,Ontario,Quebec and New Brunswick.
We also have two technical experts from Manitoba Pork and the Federation of Pork Producers in Quebec.
In addition the committee includes a swine veterinarian,two processors,an animal welfare representative,a transporter,an animal welfare scientist along with provincial and federal government representation so a pretty broad group.
Complimenting that whole code development committee was a scientific committee that developed a report around priority welfare issues for pigs.
I think nowhere in the world is there such an effort by such diverse groups to work together toward a common goal of good animal welfare and this by far has been I think the most effective approach of truly addressing animal welfare in a meaningful way.
Through all of the codes that we've been updating through this project we've achieved real and tangible improvements to animal welfare along with a mechanism to address this issue in an intelligent and informed manner.
I think this has certainly been a very effective approach and one that has ensured that producers are able to be part of the orchestration of their own destiny as opposed to what we're seeing in other parts of the world.
Once finalized the Pig Code of Practice will require a couple of months for editing and translation prior to its public release,expected in the spring of 2014.
