Conference tackles animal welfare policy

Tuesday, September 10, 2013

by MATT MCINTOSH

An upcoming conference to take place in Ottawa in October will bring industry partners together to review recent advancements in animal welfare programs and discuss a way forward in light of issues like animal health and housing.

"We're doing this to adapt to advances in science, market trends, and public opinions," says Jackie Wepruk, general manager of the National Farm Animal Care Council, which is organizing the conference that will run Oct. 9 and 10. "This year's conference is an opportunity to reflect on what's been accomplished since 2011 and continue developing codes of practice for Canadian farms."

The Council's codes of practice are animal welfare guidelines developed through round-table discussions. These discussions include everyone from producers and retailers to animal welfare advocates, and are designed to encourage positive compromise on animal welfare policy.

The conference will run on October 9 and 10, and will feature a variety of speakers from different parts of the food industry. Ryder Lee, Canadian Cattlemen's Association’s government relations manager is one of them, and explains the importance of dialogue between each sector:

"Every part of the industry has a different perspective, and what might be practical for [one] may not be practical for others. The conference is an opportunity to take our positions to other parts of the industry, and work to find a compromise."

Thanks in part to the conference in 2011, the NFACC has been able to finalize codes of practice for a number of different agricultural sectors; equine, mink, and beef cattle for example. With such past success, hopes are high for this next round of discussions.

"We've seen some real tangible improvements in animal welfare by working this way," says Wepruk. "Having producers on the front line is very important to the decision making process, and our next gathering should continue bringing positive results." BF