New Programme to Support Animal Welfare at Slaughter

CANADA - The Canadian government is backing a new programme designed to promote the welfare of animals at slaughter.
calendar icon 5 February 2014
clock icon 2 minute read

Funded through the bilateral agreement for implementation of Growing Forward 2, this programme will help businesses comply with the requirements relating to the restraining of animals during slaughter, in order to eliminate the suffering of these animals while taking into consideration the concerns of Canadians regarding animal welfare.

The programme will be allocated a budget of C$450,000 spread over three years, from 2013 to 2016.

"Canada has a strong record supporting the use of best practices in the slaughter industry. We are pleased to partner with Quebec to further promote the development of practices that take animal welfare into account," said Federal Agriculture and Agri-Food Minister Gerry Ritz
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"The implementation of this new programme is great news and demonstrates that the Government of Quebec provides on-going oversight of animal welfare. As I have already mentioned, we are working hard to ensure that animals are treated respectfully and benefit from the best conditions possible, including at slaughter. Today, we are providing concrete support to slaughterhouses in their investment project," sad Quebec Deputy Premier and Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food François Gendron.
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Facilities that have category A provincial licences, under permanent inspection, play an important role in the development and implementation of local distribution channels, such as the bovine, porcine, ovine et caprine channels.

The implementation of this programme will increase the viability of these businesses over the long term.

In the spring of 2013, the federal, provincial and territorial governments signed the Growing Forward 2 policy framework.

At the same time, the governments of Canada and Quebec signed a bilateral agreement that included $293 million in funding over five years.

The aim of this important action was to support the creation of strategic initiatives for innovation, competitiveness and market development in both the agricultural and food processing sectors.

Slaughterhouses that have a category A provincial licence are invited to take advantage of the programme in relation to their investment project for the acquisition and installation of restraining equipment for animals during slaughter.

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