Traceability is beneficial for the pork industry

Monday, October 6, 2014

Canada's mandatory national traceability system supports consumer confidence and protects your business and your customers

by MARCIA CHIASSON & COLLEEN McELWAIN

Traceability allows you to track animals and food products as they move through all stages and locations of the supply chain – from the farm to the retail meat counter.

Traceability is important to:

•     help meet market requirements and access new market opportunities;
•     conduct effective product recalls;
•     prepare for, respond to, and recover from animal disease outbreaks or disasters;
•     support consumer confidence; and
•     protect your business and your customers.

The Canadian Pork Council recognizes the benefits of traceability and, in partnership with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, developed a regulatory framework to address traceability for the sector. On July 1, 2014, Canada became one of the first countries to implement a mandatory national traceability system for its pork industry (PigTrace Canada).

The regulations help to differentiate Canadian pork in the global marketplace. They increase the competitiveness of our pork industry and strengthen Canada's position as a leader in the world pork market. Complying with the new federal regulations by following PigTrace's requirements and using the AgManifest makes hog traceability data available quickly should the need arise.

Traceability is increasingly becoming a requirement to enter into local and international markets. It is important for the Ontario pork industry (including farmers, assembly yards, auctions and packers) to meet the growing demand for transparency and to assure the buyers of hogs and meat products that good production practices, like those related to on-farm food safety and animal care, are followed. If an animal health or food safety incident arises, effective traceability systems can reduce the cost and time for response and recovery or a recall. Traceability also benefits businesses by creating opportunities for cost reductions, production improvements and market retention.

Effective traceability requires three key pieces of information:

1.    Premises Identification
2.    Animal Identification
3.    Movement Recording and Reporting

The first step towards traceability is registering your premises with the Ontario Provincial Premises Registry (PPR) to get a Premises ID (PID). Anyone who handles hogs needs a PID to meet the traceability requirements in PigTrace. Registering is easy and free. To register online, visit www.ontarioppr.ca or to register by phone, please call 1-855-697-7743 between 9 am and 5 pm Monday to Friday.

The benefits of implementing a comprehensive traceability system are:

•     increased market access;
•     improved efficiencies within your operations; and
•     improved protection for your brand.

By restricting or preventing the spread of food safety and animal health incidents, traceability systems help to strengthen consumer trust and protect public health. BP

Marcia Chiasson is food safety & traceability program specialist. Colleen McElwain is acting team leader, traceability, Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.