Chicken Farmers of Canada applauds the Government of Canada for its support of animal care in agriculture in Canada.

Today’s announcement from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (under Growing Forward 2) allows Chicken Farmers of Canada to evolve its animal care assessment program and continue to respond to consumer expectations by demonstrating excellence in animal care across all farms in Canada.

Benoît Fontaine, Chair of Chicken Farmers of Canada, said today, “The support we have received today from Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada demonstrates awareness, at all levels, of our ongoing commitment to be innovative with the programs that safeguard the birds in our care.”

The Raised by a Canadian Farmer Animal Care Program has credible, science-based foundations based on the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Hatching Eggs, Breeders, Chickens and Turkeys, as developed by the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC). NFACC is a world leader in bringing together stakeholders with different perspectives – farmers, veterinarians, processors, transporters, animal welfare associations, and provincial/federal governments – to develop robust and sound Codes of Practice.

NFACC also oversees the Animal Care Assessment Framework (ACAF), a mechanism that demonstrates that the Codes are being followed in order to build confidence throughout the value chain. The ACAF provides a credible process to follow when developing or revising an animal care assessment program based on the Codes. It is anticipated that the ACAF will be finalized by the end of the first quarter in 2018.

Once this happens, Chicken Farmers of Canada will launch a renewed Raised by a Canadian Farmer Animal Care Program. This mandatory, enforceable and 3^rd party audited program is the only program that can ensure some of the highest animal care standards across every chicken farm in Canada. Chicken Farmers of Canada will also continue its appeal to the federal government to implement a technical recognition protocol for animal care programs in Canada, similar to the successful on-farm food safety recognition protocols.

Today’s government commitment provides confidence to Canadian consumers of the high standards of animal care on Canadian chicken farms – a key pillar of the “Raised by a Canadian Farmer” brand, which showcases the commitment of farmers who work hard each day to deliver the chicken Canadians trust.

Chicken Farmers of Canada represents the 2,800 chicken farmers from coast to coast, and ensures that the chicken that reaches Canadians’ tables is safe, delicious, and raised to the highest standards: yours.