The Canadian Pork Council is re-structuring and simplifying it's Canadian Pork Excellence program.
That's the umbrella term for the council's Food Safety/Biosecurity and Animal Care programs.
The Council hopes the new structure will provide additional transparency as well as simplifying program comprehension and on-farm completion.
The Food Safety Program is based on the HACCP model.
The Animal Care Program reflects the 2014 Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs.
The Chair of the Council's On Farm Program Committee - Huron County producer Teresa VanRaay - says Canadian hog farmers are dedicated to the highest quality standards.
Council Chair Rick Bergmann says the new Canadian Pork Excellence Program shows producers commitment to consumers and the animals in their care.
The new program will be pilot tested this year on a number of farms across the country to evaluate the administration, completion and validation processes.
In 2017, it will be implemented on farms through provincial pork organisations.
And in 2018, Canadian pork farms ready for full validation will complete and officially join the Canadian Pork Excellence programs.
