Finalized Amendments to the Code of Practice for Pullets and Laying Hens Now Available
NEWS RELEASE
For immediate release:
OTTAWA, July 31, 2025 – The National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) and Egg Farmers of Canada (EFC) are pleased to announce that the final amendments to the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pullets and Laying Hens have been published and are publicly available HERE.
The Code amendment process was launched in December 2023, following a comprehensive five-year review that identified three key areas requiring updates. The Code Amendment Committee proposed revisions and undertook a public consultation from March 27 to May 26, 2025. This feedback helped inform further changes before the Committee reached consensus on the final version of the amended Code. A summary report from the Code Amendment Committee, which outlines key themes from the public input phase and the impact it had on the final amendments, is available HERE.
“The Code of Practices are fundamental in delivering rigorous animal welfare standards,” said Roger Pelissero, Chair of EFC. “The amended Code, updated through the leadership of NFACC and the Code Amendment Committee, are critical in maintaining current, progressive standards for hen welfare on our farms. The outcome of this process supports our sector’s vision of continuous improvement in our production practices and approach to producing Canadian eggs.”
Unlike full Code updates, Code amendments are designed to address targeted issues, making it possible to keep Canada’s animal care standards current and responsive by drawing on the latest scientific evidence, societal expectations for responsible care, and production practices. These amendments involved changes to requirements and recommended practices for round feeders, space allowance for pullets in muti-tier systems, and the maximum number of tiers allowed in barns.
"I was pleased to contribute, on behalf of World Animal Protection, to the collaborative deliberations surrounding the Laying Hen Code of Practice Amendment topics", said Dr. Michelle Jendral who represents World Animal Protection Canada on the Code Committee. "This was a unique opportunity to build relationships with stakeholder groups, bring forward and represent concerns relating to animal welfare, and provide input to inform the final Code".
The revised Code of Practice is the product of Canada’s consensus-driven, multi-stakeholder approach to animal welfare. The 15-member Code Amendment Committee was comprised of egg farmers and representatives from the egg value chain, including the grading and processing sector, pullet growers, research community, animal welfare advocacy, poultry veterinarians, retail sector, and government.
Canada’s Codes of Practice provide critical guidance for the care and handling of farm animals. They reflect our national understanding of animal care requirements and recommended practices and serve as educational tools, reference materials for regulations, and as the foundation for farm animal care assessment programs.
More information on the Code development process is available HERE.
Financial support was provided through the AgriAssurance Program under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership.
About the National Farm Animal Care Council
NFACC is a collaborative partnership of diverse stakeholders created in 2005 to share information and work together on farm animal care and welfare. It is the national lead for farm animal care issues in Canada and operates as a division of Animal Health Canada. For more information on NFACC, visit www.nfacc.ca.
About Egg Farmers of Canada
Now in its sixth decade as one of Canada’s leading agriculture organizations, Egg Farmers of Canada manages the national egg supply and promotes egg consumption while representing the interests of over 1,200 regulated egg farmers and egg farm families from coast to coast. Visit www.eggfarmers.ca for more information.
Media contacts:
Jackie Wepruk, Division Director, NFACC
Phone: 403-783-4066, nfacc@xplornet.com
Elissa Zaks, Senior Public Relations Officer, EFC
Phone: 343-777-6433, ezaks@eggs.ca
