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 1182

The Canadian Pork Council says the drug use policy developed for Canadian Quality Assurance appears to move in the same direction as a federal report on the use of antimicrobials in animal agriculture.

A federal advisory committee report on the use of antimicrobials in livestock production contains 38 recommendations for dealing with concerns related to antimicrobial resistance. Health Canada has taken steps to implement some of those recommendations while others are still being evaluated.

Canadian Quality Assurance National Coordinator Dawn LeBlanc says not all of the report's recommendations align perfectly with the CQA drug use policy, but the two seem to be heading in very similar directions.

"The Health Canada Report was actually being developed at the same time that the CQA committees were developing our drug use policy.

It's worked out quite well that some of the recommendations in that report line up with exactly what we're doing within the policy.

Beyond the drug use policy related to the AMR (antimicrobial resistance) issue, we'll be providing producers with ongoing information regarding prudent use of antimicrobials.

We'll also be starting some communications with the provincial veterinary registrars, making sure that everyone is aware of our drug use policy and that veterinarians, whether they are actively involved in the CQA program or not, know what our policy is about and what restrictions this entails for producers who are part of the program."

LeBlanc says those involved with the Canadian Quality Assurance Program will continue to keep tabs on Health Canada's activities in response to the report on antimicrobial resistance and respond to any changes in legislation or other developments related to the issue.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.