Canadian Sheep Code of Practice Draft Open for Public Comment

Jul 09, 2013

Canadian Sheep Code of Practice Draft Open for Public Comment

By Amanda Brodhagen, Farms.com

In a joint statement the Canadian Sheep Federation (CFS) and the National Farm Animal Care Council (NFACC) announced the public comment period on the draft for the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Sheep.

The draft has been two-year process led by 17 person committee. Industry stakeholders are asked to provide feedback on the code – input will be taken into consideration for the final code. The comment period will be open until Sept. 6th, 2013.

“This public comment period will allow us to ensure we are on the right track in providing sheep owners with the information they need to meet the needs of their animals. All feedback received through the public comment period will be considered by the committee as they finalize the new Code,” said John Hemsted, sheep producer from Ontario and Chair of the Code Development Committee.

More information about the code can be found on NFACC’s website.

Video: Finding a Balance of Innovation and Regulation - Dr. Peter Facchini

Regulations help markets and industry exist on level playing fields, keeping consumers safe and innovation from going too far. However, incredibly strict regulations can stunt innovation and cause entire industries to wither away. Dr. Peter James Facchini brings his perspective on how existing regulations have slowed the advancement of medical developments within Canada. Given the international concern of opium poppy’s illicit potential, Health Canada must abide by this global policy. But with modern technology pushing the development of many pharmaceuticals to being grown via fermentation, is it time to reconsider the rules?

Dr. Peter James Facchini leads research into the metabolic biochemistry in opium poppy at the University of Calgary. For more than 30 years, his work has contributed to the increased availability of benzylisoquinoline alkaloid biosynthetic genes to assist in the creation of morphine for pharmaceutical use. Dr. Facchini completed his B.Sc. and Ph.D. in Biological Sciences at the University of Toronto before completing Postdoctoral Fellowships in Biochemistry at the University of Kentucky in 1992 & Université de Montréal in 1995.