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 1394

The Canadian Pork Council says the initial focus of new US anti-terrorism legislation will be education as opposed to enforcement.

Regulations under the US Bioterrorism Preparedness Act are now in the interim final rule stage and will take effect December 12.

The new law is designed to protect the US food supply from terrorist attack and it will affect virtually everyone involved in the food production chain who exports products into the US.

Canadian Pork Council Communications Officer Anita DeCoste says the process is still unfolding but the goal is to create as little disruption as possible.

"One thing that's important to remember is that this is new legislation, the FDA is working out all of the details and it's very much a learning process for FDA and for all of the stakeholders.

The Canadian Pork Council will certainly be taking advantage of every opportunity we have to get the questions answered that we need so that our producers can make as easy a transition as possible to be able to comply with these rules.

The information we have from FDA is that, for the first few months following this December 12 date, they will focus on education in making sure that stakeholders are able to find out how to properly comply with these rules verses strict enforcement from day one.

The also will be putting out a compliance guide which will help producers and all stakeholders deal with making sure that they are acting within the US law and are taking the right steps to make sure that they follow the guidelines set out by the US".

DeCoste says CPC continues to monitor the process and plans to submit its comments on the new act to the US Food and Drug Administration.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.