- About
-
Divisions
- National Farm Animal Care Council
- Canadian Animal Health Surveillance System
- Emergency Management
- Work Areas
- E-learning Campus
- AHC Forum
- Communications
ELORA, ON – This month marks a significant milestone for the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) as it celebrates 20 years of leading farm animal care and welfare in Canada.
Founded in 2005 with just over 20 members, NFACC has grown into a globally unique organization. It is the only entity in the world that brings together farmers, animal welfare groups, enforcement agencies, government representatives, and other stakeholders under a collaborative decision-making model to advance farm animal welfare. Today, NFACC includes more than 50 primary members, partners, and associate members.
"NFACC has created processes for those with the jurisdiction, influence, or responsibilities in farm animal welfare to collectively progress on farm animal welfare while maintaining the viability of Canadian animal agriculture," says Hans Kristensen, Chair of the NFACC Board. "Around the NFACC table, opportunities are created to have conversations with those who see farm animal welfare differently and to build relationships and trust amongst each other."
At the heart of NFACC’s work is a credible, science-informed approach to developing, updating, and maintaining Codes of Practice for the care and handling of farm animals, as well as a similar process for creating animal care assessment programs.
Over the past two decades, NFACC has developed, updated, or amended 14 Codes of Practice, and recognized eight animal care assessment programs that have followed its rigorous Animal Care Assessment Framework process.
NFACC’s commitment to transparency and credibility goes beyond traditional multi-stakeholder committee work. Its Code process includes:
Each Code of Practice and Animal Care Assessment Program is developed using consensus decision-making, ensuring that solutions reflect and integrate diverse interests, give all parties a voice, and promote mutual understanding and respect.
"I am so proud that after 20 years we are still growing and continuing to support important conversations on farm animal welfare” says Jackie Wepruk, the NFACC Division Director, who has been part of the organization since its establishment. "We are very fortunate in Canada that our society values collaborative approaches and that we have a history of animal welfare advocates working with farmers on animal welfare standards. We need to treasure and preserve this ability to work together. Everyone that comes together under NFACC is a shining example of how we reduce polarization on important social issues."
-30-
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.
Animal Health Canada is the only national organization that brings together industry, federal, provincial, and territorial partners to provide collaborative guidance on a cohesive, functional, and responsive farmed animal health and welfare system in Canada. For more information, visit animalhealthcanada.ca.
For further information:
Tanya Frye
Communications Director
Animal Health Canada
(613) 302-2671
tfrye@animalhealthcanada.ca