by SUSAN MANN
The Canadian pork industry has developed a ractopamine-free pork certification program to provide export markets assurances the pork they’re importing from Canada is raised without the feed additive.
The program is available now and includes requirements for pork producers, feed manufacturers, transporters, slaughterhouses, processors and storage facilities.
Russian authorities told its meat supplying countries, including Canada, the United States and Brazil, that as of Dec. 7, 2012 it would not allow ractopamine residues in meat imported into the country and into the other two countries it has a trading block with – Belarus and Kazakhstan. “Russian officials have indicated that along with a veterinary certificate, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency must attach an official guarantee to each shipment that ractopamine has not been used at any stage of production in the feed of the animals from which the meat is derived,” Ontario Pork says in its May 14 daily news brief on its website.
Ontario Pork spokesman Keith Robbins says they sent out a package to farmers outlining what forms must be completed along with background information about the new program. In a May 7 letter to producers on Canadian Pork Council letterhead, farmers were told they must obtain assurances from feed suppliers and incoming animal suppliers that the pigs’ feed and feed ingredients do not contain ractopamine and have been processed and handled to avoid contamination. Incoming animals must also not have been fed ractopamine-containing feed.
To be eligible for shipping pigs under the program, a barn must undergo an enrollment assessment that includes a review and confirmation of supporting documents and records. The enrollment assessment report is forwarded to the producer’s slaughterhouse and Ontario Pork. Barns using ractopamine during the past 12 months will have to do carcass tests. An ongoing program assessment checklist must be completed each year by the Canadian quality assurance (CQA) program validators and submitted to the CQA provincial coordinator.
The program, developed by the CFIA, Canadian Meat Council, Canadian Pork Council, Canada Pork International and the Animal Nutrition Association of Canada, is in place so Canadian processors can continue shipping product to Russia.
As for how many farmers may be using the program, Canadian Pork Council spokesman Gary Stordy says “that’s a discussion between the farmers and their processors where they ship the animals to. We understand that not all plants are taking up this program.”
Stordy says the pork council isn’t necessarily endorsing or supporting the implementation of the program “unless there’s a discussion between the producer and the processor.” BF
Comments
Ractopamine is to Russia, what COOL is to the USA. Russia plays games in an effort to thwart free trade. I recall quite a few years ago a well known agricultural building company going to Russia to offer advice and aid in building barns. This is the thanks they get. Protectionism lives on. Sad
It's not just Russia, it's also China and Europe. Pay attention to Smithfield's...they have over half their pork now paylean free. While most other farmers are wasting time whining, Smithfield's is giving the customer what it wants. They'll be the ones laughing all the way to the bank. It's a global market place whether you like it or not. We have to compete...unless you're in supply management.
Just hours after the US passed the Magnitsky Act, which is legislation that punishes Russian officials linked to human rights violations, these non-tarriff barriers were announced. Yes, I said US, but of course they would apply them to Canada also, or else it would be hard to deny allegations that this is not a political, non-tarriff measure. The Russians want to be self sufficient in feeding its own population. The George Morris Center recently did a study on this,(google it) and revealed that the price of Ractopamine free pork in Russia is almost double that of the prevailing price. Whether it is right or wrong to use Ractopamine is being used as a red herring. I don't think it is acceptable that we pay double for supply managed food in Canada, and I also don't think it is acceptable that the average Russian consumer should have to pay double because of anti-trade related political issues. We will comply, I have already been handed the paperwork, but don't be surprised to see more red tape of this nature thrown at us in the future. Raube Beuerman, Dublin, ON
Russian protectionism means they are 80 years behind the times, and it's no excuse for us doing the same things - we are supposed to have been the beneficiaries of economic progress, yet, we in agriculture, keep acting like we have learned nothing about economics in the past 150 years.
Stephen Thompson, Clinton ON
The Ontario pork industry is disgusting. I thought the customer was supposed to be right. That stringy crap full of what is basically poison should be banned.
Why should they allow a drug like that in any food period. Sounds like they want to protect their people , we should have all drug free food. If you like your food drugged and think it,s Protectionism guess we have a big problem in our world.
Editor: Comment will be published if resubmitted and signed.
Post new comment