CPC gives Canadian Pork Excellence program final stamp of approval

Mar 13, 2018

New platform will replace CQA and ACA programs

Staff Reporter

Farms.com

Canada’s pork industry will see some new food quality and animal care standards by the beginning of 2019, as the Canadian Pork Council (CPC) approved the Canadian Pork Excellence (CPE) program this week, according to a Farmscape interview yesterday.

The new platform replaces the existing Canadian Quality Assurance (CQA) and Animal Care Assessment (ACA). CPE will include three parts: PigSAFE, PigCARE and PigTRACE.

While producers are already familiar with PigTRACE, as the CPC launched this traceability program in August 2009, the other two elements are new to Canadian producers.

PigSAFE, which will take the place of the current CQA program, is the food safety component of the CPE program.

PigCARE is a revised version of the ACA program that “will account for the introduction of the 2014 Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs,” according to the CPC.

In total, 73 farms across the country participated in the program pilot testing, Mark Fynn, manager of quality assurance and animal care programs with Manitoba Pork, said in the interview.

In order to make a smooth transition to the CPE program in January, producers will be able to access program materials this summer. Pork producers can find more information on the program on the CPC website.

Farms.com has reached out to Manitoba Pork for further comment.

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