On-Farm Programs

Canadian hog farmers are dedicated to raising the healthiest animals and providing safe food for consumers. The hog industry’s national on-farm programs require farmers to follow rigid standards for livestock production allowing them to demonstrate a deep commitment to on-farm food safety and humane animal care.

Canadian Pork Excellence (CPE)

Canadian Pork Excellence is the national platform that covers three major components of on-farm programs: Traceability, Food Safety and Animal Care.

In order to ensure that on-farm programs continue to reflect the remarkable work of producers and meet the domestic and global consumer demand, Canadian producers and stakeholders have been updating the CQA and ACA programs with the support of provincial member associations and Canadian Pork Council staff. The updated CQA program is called PigSAFE and the ACA program is called PigCARE. Both were launched under the Canadian Pork Excellence umbrella in 2019.

For more information, check out the Canadian Pork Excellence website or FAQ page.

Food Safety

Canadian hog producers are recognized in Canada and around the world for producing top-quality pork.

On-farm programs relating to food safety were developed in response to consumers' interest in having assurances about the way pork is produced. The Canadian Quality Assurance (CQA) program and  PigSAFE program provide a mechanism for producers to demonstrate their implementation of sound production practices that promote safe food production.

The food safety programs implemented on-farm are based on the Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) models and include biosecurity elements developed by the Canadian Swine Health Board.

To be a registered CQA®/ACA or CPE producer, program requirements are assessed each year for compliance by a program validator. 

Animal Care & Welfare

Animal welfare is more than ensuring animals are raised in comfortable surroundings.

Our concern for care continues through the entire value chain from farmgate to the plate including transporting of our livestock.  Producers are committed to raising high quality pork for their local and international customers and the overall health and well-being of the animals is very important.  Canada's Pig Code of Practice was updated in 2014 to reflect enhanced animal care, housing and transport protocols.

On-farm programs related to animal care demonstrate producers’ commitment to the care and welfare of their animals. They also increase public trust, and industry sustainability.

The Animal Care Assessment (ACA) program includes the 2014 Pig Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs and the program is now called PigCARE.

Transition to PigSAFE | PigCARE (PS|PC)

On January 1, 2024, all producers will have to be registered to the PS|PC programs. Your 2023 validation must be completed as a full PigSAFE | PigCARE validation so now is the perfect time to start preparing.

Prior to contacting your validator, please ensure that you have:

  • Completed your site manager training.

    • Site manager training can be done online or in-person.

    • In-person training sessions are scheduled twice a month at the Sask Pork office in Saskatoon. The objective of the training session is to set producers up for their first PS|PC validation.

    • Check Sask Pork’s event listings for upcoming training dates.

  • Ensure your mandatory Records and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) are in place.

    • CPC has prepared a PS|PC Producer Document Checklist that summarizes all the mandatory elements Records and Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs). This document will assist you in preparing your paperwork and these components will be covered during the scheduled training sessions.

Please contact Ravneet Kaur at 306-343-3502 or rkaur@saskpork.com to schedule a one-on-one session or for more information.

PigTrace

The PigTrace program ensures that all pig farmers and pig custodians (auction markets, transporters, breeders etc.) properly identify, keep records and report the movement of pigs under their care or control from birth or import to slaughter or export. The wild boar industry is also subject to these requirements as of July 1, 2015.  Producers who would like more information on pig and farmed wild boar identification and reporting requirements should contact PigTrace, which is administered by the Canadian Pork Council.

The CFIA is responsible for enforcing the identification requirements. All movements require a completed PigTrace Animal Movement Manifest to be completed.

Canadian Ractopamine-Free Certification Program

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is responsible for certifying that pork products exported from Canada originate from pigs that have never been fed and/or exposed to ractopamine hydrochloride. Canadian Ractopamine-Free Certification Program.