Poultry processor associations in Canada and the United
States have decided to collaborate on animal welfare protocols.
The U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Poultry & Eggs
(US-RSPE) and the International Poultry Welfare Alliance (IPWA), met to discuss
ways to collaborate to advance, support and communicate continuous improvement
in sustainability and animal welfare through leadership, innovation,
multi-stakeholder engagement and collaboration.
Canada’s involvement is via the Canadian Poultry and Egg
Processors Council.
It was on the firing line last week after Mercy for Animals
released a video of a chicken-catching crew kicking, throwing, pulling off a
leg and abusing chickens at a farm near Chilliwack, B.C.
Elite Farm Services fired the on-site manager and his
five-man crew and has decided to equip its staff with video cameras to monitor
behaviour.
The council issued a statement saying “we have already
started the process of meeting with the industry partners and we are committed
to continue leading representative from all parts of the industry in the coming
weeks, to review and strengthen current practices and prioritize any necessary
changes, to ensure that the care of our birds, at every point in the value chain,
meets the highest standards.”
The groups that have decided to collaborate said they will
use research, education and outreach to try to keep on top of current and
emerging concerns related to animal welfare and sustainability.
The groups decided to offer a joint membership so
stakeholders within the poultry and egg value-chain can benefit from both
sustainability and animal welfare discussions.
They are now trying to recruit an executive director.
