National Farmed Animal Health and Welfare Council Receives Interim Reports on two Priority Items
January 31, 2011: The National Farmed Animal Health and Welfare (NFAHW) Council met in Ottawa on January 13-14, 2011, to discuss recommendations on the development of Canada’s farmed animal health system. Council co-chairs Mr. Rob McNabb and Dr. Wayne Lees, Chief Veterinary Officer for the Province of Manitoba, are responsible for the development of council processes and priorities.
A council’s working group is examining the Farm Animal Codes of Practice in animal welfare legislation in Canada relative to the status of provincial regulations concerning animal welfare. A status report prepared by this group has resulted in additional action being recommended by the council.
The Animal Health Surveillance Working Group provided a progress report on the status of animal health surveillance in Canada. As a result, the council has agreed to a work plan moving this important issue forward. The next meeting for the NFAHW Council is scheduled in Calgary, Alberta on April 14th and 15th, 2011.
The NFAHW Council is an advisory council to the Federal-Provincial-Territorial Regulatory Assistant Deputy Ministers of Agriculture and is supported by federal and provincial governments and non-government stakeholders. The council was formed to implement the National Farmed Animal Health and Welfare Strategy. The NFAHW Strategy recognizes the shared responsibility of federal and provincial governments and non-government organizations in animal health, in Canada.
For information regarding the NFAHW Council or to submit correspondence to the National Farmed Animal Health and Welfare Council, contact the NFAHW Council Secretariat: the Canadian Animal Health Coalition at nfahwcouncil@animalhealth.ca or by mail to 660 Speedvale Avenue West, Suite #205, Guelph, Ontario N1K 1E5.
