THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2012
VOL. 90 | NO. 24 | $3.75
AGRIUM TALKS |
SERVING WESTERN CANADIAN FARM FAMILIES SINCE 1923
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FERTILIZER FEARS
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HOG PRODUCTION | CONCERNS
Sow stall ban issue dominates discussion at World Pork Expo BY ED WHITE WINNIPEG BUREAU
DES MOINES, Iowa — There was a lot of defiance and defensiveness about sow stalls at this year’s World Pork Expo. “We’re tired of these announcements that have been made (by restaurant and grocery chains) simply as a get-out-of-jail card that really have no meaning or anything behind them,” U.S. National Pork Producers Council vice- president Dallas Hockman said at the opening news conference of the World Pork Expo. “We feel it’s time for discussion and dialogue and understanding more the complexity of this issue.” However, there are many signs under the surface that the U.S. hog i n d u s t r y i s a l re a d y m ov i n g t o embrace open housing for gestating sows. The decision of many producers to move toward open housing can be seen on farms across the United States and even on the floor of the World Pork Expo.
Wade Nelson carries the branding irons to a second location during the Earl ranch branding west of Cayley, Alta., on June 2. About 50 friends and family were on hand to brand 500 calves. | MIKE STURK PHOTO
SEE INDUSTRY WANTS DEBATE, P 3
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FOOD SAFETY | LEGISLATION
Safe Food for Canadians Act | New bill will consolidate existing bills, give new powers to ag minister BY BARRY WILSON OTTAWA BUREAU
The federal government is proposing the most significant food inspection and safety reforms since the Canadian Food Inspection Agency was created 15 years ago. On June 7, the Safe Food for Canadians Act was introduced in the Senate and debate began June 12, with Manitoba Conservative Don Plett leading off. Debate will be interrupted by the summer parliamentary recess in late June and then picked up in the fall when Parliament resumes. Approval of the bill is not likely at least until winter. Bill S-11 will consolidate four existing food inspection bills into one,
I am particularly pleased that under the act, imported foods will be required to meet the same high standards that Canadian producers and processors now meet. MARTIN UNRAU PRESIDENT, CANADIAN CATTLEMEN’S ASSOC.
give the agriculture minister the authority to impose regulations that enforce national traceability systems if necessary and give food inspectors more powers to demand documents from food companies and to obtain
warrants for premise searches. The bill will also impose new restrictions on food importers, including the need for a licence. It would also sharply increase fines for companies that violate food safety rules or people who deliberately tamper with food in stores, raising the potential fines from $250,000 to $5 million or higher. “Clear consistent rules for our inspectors and industry overall will ultimately make food safer for all Canadians,” agriculture minister Gerry Ritz told a June 7 Ottawa news conference. “And when the law isn’t followed and the safety of the food our families eat is put at risk, the new act will allow tougher fines and penalties to be imposed.” Food industry reaction was over-
whelmingly positive. Canadian Cattlemen’s Association president Martin Unrau from Manitoba offered a typical reaction. He said the promise of tougher traceability rules is welcome, as well as a promise that they will apply to imports as well as domestically produced products. “I am particularly pleased that under the act, imported foods will be required to meet the same high standards that Canadian producers and processors now meet,” he said in a CCA statement. Canadian Federation of Agriculture president Ron Bonnett also praised the legislative proposals and the streamlining of food safety rules. SEE SAFE FOOD ACT COMING, PAGE 2
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u|xhHEEJBy00001pzYv#:% JUNE 14, 2012 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: Box 2500, Saskatoon, SK. S7K 2C4 The Western Producer is published in Saskatoon by Western Producer Publications, which is owned by GVIC Communications Corp. Publications Mail Agreement No. 40069240; Registration No. 10676
New food safety bill makes sweeping changes to inspection