New funding will support integration of the Canadian egg sector's assurance systems

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

by SUSAN MANN

Egg farmers have joined the beef and dairy sectors in receiving federal government funding to integrate their existing assurance systems into a single National Quality Code for eggs.

Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced Tuesday that Egg Farmers of Canada is getting more than $100,000 in funding to integrate the egg sector’s assurance systems.

“The streamlined National Quality Code program will provide egg producers and graders with an all-in-one certification program that addresses food safety, traceability and animal care,” the government’s press release says.

Patrick Girard, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada senior media relations officer, says by email sectors that meet the program requirements and wish to integrate their national assurance systems are encouraged to apply for funding through the AgriMarketing program. So far, egg farmers as well as the beef and dairy sectors have received funding to integrate their national assurance systems.

The money for this program comes from the assurance systems stream of the federal agriculture department’s AgriMarketing program, a five-year program that is earmarked to deliver up to $341 million under Growing Forward 2, the national agricultural policy framework, the release says.

Egg Farmers was established in 1972 and represents about 1,000 registered egg farmers in all Canadian provinces. BF