Farm-Scape is sponsored by Manitoba Pork Council and Sask Pork Play Audio Farm-Scape is a Wonderworks Canada production and is distributed courtesy of Manitoba Pork Council and Sask Pork.

Farm-Scape, Episode 1142

Public comments on proposed environmental management systems standards for hog operations will be reviewed by a Canadian Standards Association Technical Committee next month.

The development of environmental management systems standards for hog operations is being overseen by the Canadian Standards Association.

A CSA technical committee, comprised of stakeholders such as regulatory people, producers, service professionals, and academics, has developed two standards in draft form. Project Manager for Environment Kelly Deeton says the heart is the one, which is entitled environmental management systems standards requirements.

"That standard outlines requirements for, example, policy planning, implementation, checking and corrective action.

The heart of it though is that, in order to comply with this standard, hog operations have to identify their environmental impacts and develop plans to reduce or manage them.

The real benefit of these CSA standards on environmental management systems for hog operations...there are many benefits but the three big ones, I think, are that operations can achieve improved environmental performance.

That is they can reduce their adverse impacts on the environment. The second thing is an economics type thing.

They can really improve their own efficiency through reduced resource use and waste. The third is, it really helps in terms of trade.

They can improve their market access and competitiveness by promoting environmentally friendly products."

The 60 day public comment period ended last month.

Deeton says comments will be reviewed next month when the technical committee meets to determine how or if those comments will be incorporated into the draft standards.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.