Farm-Scape, Episode 2153

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says changes being considered to regulations under the Health of Animals Act that set standards for the transportation of livestock are intended to protect both the animals being moved and the operators who want to do the job properly.

In an effort to clarify the rules, to reflect new practices, new expectations and new information and to facilitate consistent enforcement, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is considering several changes to 30 year old legislation that governs the transportation of animals within Canada.

Prior to the introduction of a draft regulation, the agency is inviting stakeholders to comment on both the existing regulations and the proposed changes.

CFIA senior staff veterinarian Dr. Gord Doonan stresses the process is intended to bring the rules into line with practices being used in 2006 and beyond not to change what industry is already doing.

We believe that animals are transported very well in Canada but there's always a minority who will stop at nothing and, what ever it takes to make a dollar, they'll do it.

This is not a reflection of typical Canadian industry but there are individuals and companies out there who will subject animals to undue suffering during transport. It's really for those minority that regulations are required.

Most people are going to do what is right as long as they know what the acceptable standards are but people who are in business are put under pressure by competition to reduce their standards so regulations actually protect the majority who want to transport animals properly yet remain competitive.

Dr. Doonan notes changes currently being considered are the result of stakeholder input gathered over the past five years and additional input will be collected until at least July.

For Farmscape.Ca, I'm Bruce Cochrane.