Harper Government Supports Improving Animal Care Practices

Guelph, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Parliamentary Secretary Pierre Lemieux, on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz, today announced an investment of over $2 million to the Canadian Animal Health Coalition (CAHC) to develop and update poultry codes and further advance best practices for the care and handling of other farm animals. The announcement took place at the Poultry Industry Council's head office.

Building on previous work done with the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC), the CAHC will update existing animal care codes for the poultry sector and develop three new codes of practice for additional sectors. Guidance materials will be developed to ensure that farmers have access to the latest, most up-to-date codes and assessment programs, assuring customers that the product they choose has been raised to the strictest standards of animal welfare.

Quick facts

• The CAHC is a not-for-profit organization serving Canada's farmed animal industry. CAHC is a partnership of organizations that recognize the shared responsibility for an effective Canadian animal health system.
• In 2012, Canada produced poultry products worth $3.8 billion.
• This investment is made through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's AgriMarketing Program, a five-year, $341-million initiative under Growing Forward 2.

Source: AAFC