AFAC calls for flexible animal transport regulations

[Animal 0]

AFAC calls for flexible animal transport regulations
June 1, 2006
Farmscape (Episode 2155)
Sask Pork and Manitoba Pork Council
Bruce Cochrane
Farmscape.ca


The Alberta Farm Animal Care Council is urging the federal government to ensure
any new regulations under the Health of Animals Act pertaining to livestock
transportation will be flexible enough to accommodate changing industry
practices and standards. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is considering
amending the section of the health of animals regulation which deals with the
transport of livestock under the Health of Animals Act to reflect changes that
have occurred since the regulation was first introduced about 30 years ago.
Alberta Farm Animal Care Council general manager Susan Church agrees the
regulation needs to be modernized but, she notes, one key concern is a
suggestion that the revised regulation will contain more prescriptive
information.
Clip-Susan Church-Alberta Farm Animal Care Council We feel quite strongly that
the new regulation or any changes in the regulation should refer to codes of
practice that the industry have developed or are developing because the codes
stay current and can change and show how the industry changes and grows based on
new information, new research, new trucks, new methods of transportation. The
regulation is set in stone.
In this case, where there's so many variables involved, weather, type of animal,
distance, driving conditions, type of vehicle, we feel it's very important to
look back at the codes of practice that are very well done and enable the
industry, working with CFIA to include changes as our industry evolves.
Church maintains what's needed is not more regulations that will make the job of
moving livestock harder but rather regulations that will make sure those who
aren't doing a good job do. She notes all indications are that the industry is
doing a good job and she's encouraging the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to
work with industry to gain a better understanding of current best Canadian
management practices.
top