The public comment period allows stakeholders - pig producers, consumers and others with an interest in the welfare of pigs - to view the draft Code and provide input to the final Code.

The draft Code and the public comment system will be available at www.nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice/pigs. All comments must be submitted through the online system, for which easy to follow instructions are provided.

The public comment period begins tomorrow and closes on 3 August.

Comments will be considered by the Code Development Committee after the close of the comment period. The final pig Code of Practice is expected to be released by the end of 2013.

A Scientific Committee report summarising research conclusions on priority welfare topics for pigs can be found online alongside the draft Code.

This peer-reviewed report aided the discussions of the Code Development Committee as it prepared the draft Code of Practice. The report, developed by world-renowned animal welfare scientists, should be reviewed prior to making a submission.

“The Code Development Committee has worked hard since 2010 developing the draft Code. The public comment period will allow us to check our work with a broader representative group,” said Florian Possberg, pork producer and Chair of the Code Development Committee.

“We have had to tackle several difficult issues in writing this Code. Since it will fall primarily to producers to implement the Code, it is important for producers to review the draft Code and to respond with informed, rational, and constructive input.”

“The Code process provides an important opportunity for advancing farm animal welfare policy in Canada,” said Geoff Urton representing the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies on NFACC. “We hope to receive broad input from the general public, industry and other stakeholders to ensure this Code improves animal welfare and reflects the values of Canadians.”

The pig Code revision is lead by a 17-person Code Development Committee that includes participants from across Canada including producers, animal welfare and enforcement representatives, researchers, transporters, processors, veterinarians and government representatives. More information on the Code development process is available at www.nfacc.ca/codes-of-practice.

The pig Code is one of eight Codes of Practice currently under revision as part of a multi-year NFACC project. Codes of Practice serve as our national understanding of animal care requirements and recommended practices. It is important that Codes be scientifically informed, practical and reflect societal expectations for responsible farm animal care. The Codes cover housing, feed and water, handling, euthanasia, transport and other important management practices.

Funding for the Codes of Practice is provided by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Agricultural Flexibility Fund, under the Addressing Domestic and International Market Expectations Relative to Farm Animal Welfare initiative, as part of Canada’s Economic Action Plan.