Harper Government Invests In Canadian Sheep Industry

News Release

June 12, 2015 – Guelph, Ontario – Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC)

Member of Parliament for Kitchener-Conestoga, Harold Albrecht on behalf of Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz today announced an investment of $348,090 which will enable the Canadian Sheep Federation (CSF) to combine sheep and lamb production assurance systems under the nationally recognized Food Safe Farm Practices (FSFP) Program.

This support will allow the Canadian Sheep Federation to integrate the National Sheep Biosecurity Standard and the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Sheep into the FSFP. This will provide assurances that sheep and lamb have been raised under an integrated farm program that addresses food safety, biosecurity and animal care.

Quick facts

Canada is world-renowned for our high-quality livestock. For 2014, Canadian farm cash receipts for sheep and lambs totaled nearly $157 million.
The Food Safe Farm Practices Program is an on-farm food safety program that examines all areas of production and outlines good production practices designed to minimize food safety risks and produce a safe and high-quality product.
This investment is being made through Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s AgriMarketing Program, which is a five-year, up to $341 million initiative under the Growing Forward 2 policy framework.
The CSF is a national not-for-profit organization that represents the interests of sheep and lamb producers across Canada with a mission to further the viability, expansion and prosperity of the Canadian sheep and wool industries.

Quotes

"The sheep industry is a significant contributor to the Canadian economy. This investment is helping to ensure that sheep producers have an assurance program that promotes the growth and viability of the industry, while meeting the needs of buyers, retailers and consumers."
Member of Parliament for Kitchener-Conestoga Harold Albrecht

"Expanding the scope of the Canadian sheep industry's on-farm food safety program helps support our industry's commitment to food safety and responsible livestock production. The end result is an all-encompassing assurance program that is easy for producers to follow and that allows farms to be recognized for their efforts."
Chairman Canadian Sheep Federation, Phil Kolodychuk

"Not only will the enhanced assurance program allow producers to maintain and grow domestic markets, it will also contribute to the overall credibility of food safety in Canadian agriculture and support Canada's international market access goals."
Vice-Chair Canadian Sheep Federation, Rob Scott

Additional links

Growing Forward 2 (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
AgriMarketing (Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada)
Canadian Sheep Federation

Contacts

Emily Hogeveen
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Gerry Ritz
613-773-1059

Media Relations
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Ottawa, Ontario
613-773-7972
1-866-345-7972
Follow us on Twitter: @AAFC_Canada

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Harper Government Invests In Canadian Sheep Industry

News Release

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