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POTC Plenary Meetings Board of Directors Poultry Turkey Chicken Egg Further Processing Egg Grading CHF Agriculture Ministers Focus On The Economy, Growth And Market Opportunities For Canadian Producers
Sunrise
Farms Enters the Alberta Turkey Industry
Conferences, Courses and
Workshops
POTC Meetings – The usual group of
poultry processing representatives travelled to Ottawa for the POTC
meeting on February 4 and 5. A CFIA delegation of four joined the group
in the afternoon of February 4 for update presentations.
In March, CFIA resources will be allocated toward reassessing the pilot
plants in BC and Quebec participating in the Poultry Rejection Project
and perhaps beginning new ones to gather additional data –an action that
demonstrates CFIA’s continued support of the PRP.
The Food Safety Enhancement Program draft manual has now been released
to industry for review. A CPEPC subcommittee contributed to a
pre-consultation version before Christmas and this draft is the result.
Members’ comments will be accepted via CPEPC and then forwarded to CFIA
with the final draft anticipated for release in April. The FSEP manual
will be formally introduced to all industry stakeholders through a
series of cross-country industry workshop days later in the year.
The allowance for kidneys in poultry continues to move along. Amendments
to the regulations will be the most efficient if separated into three
regulatory amendment applications, beginning with the easiest
and therefore quickest amendment which is to propose an increased weight
limit for “young” chicken. Secondly will be a regulatory amendment to
allow kidney in whole birds of all species and weights and thirdly to
allow kidney tissue in mechanically separated meat. CPEPC continues to
work closely with CFIA to provide the requested information for the
regulatory amendment application process.
Canadian processors and CFIA continue to await the anticipated US FSIS
Salmonella performance standards before finalizing a domestic policy.
Industry should anticipate tighter microbiological criteria from our
trading neighbours and imported products will be expected to meet any US
domestic criteria. CPEPC has been collaborating with CFIA throughout the
development of the draft policy.
A subcommittee made up of CPEPC representatives along with catching,
transportation, producers and academia will embark to draft of a supply
chain guidance document for animal care and welfare. Contents will build
on much of the great work already completed in different links in the
supply chain to build one guidance document for the poultry supply
chain.
Plenary Meetings – In conjunction
with this year’s February Sectoral meetings, attendees were invited to
an overview session on Canadian Competition Law from Rob Kwinter, a
partner in the firm Blake, Cassels & Graydon LLP. Rob’s presentation
focused on the upcoming changes to the Competition Guidelines and what
they will mean to our members, particularly given our supply management
environment. In addition, specific questions on activities at egg,
chicken and turkey sectors were posed and answered. Processor members
have been given the password and link to Rob’s presentation which is
posted on CPEPC’s website.
In addition, we also heard from Frank Van Gool, Intersol’s lead on the
Industry Association Synergy Project. The final report is out and Mr.
Van Gool gave attendees a summary of its contents. The report is very
good and all members are urged to read it. It highlights the benefits of
working together with CMC & FPPAC and offers options regarding how our
three organizations could coordinate some of our efforts and functions
as well as increasing our scale and therefore our voice as advocates for
the industry with government, etc. Within the report, Intersol outlines
5 potential options (from status quo to full blown merger of the
organizations and some in between) that could be adopted going forward.
It notes the benefits and risks, along with high level costs associated
with these options. Intersol has also made a recommendation. At our
Board of Directors meeting on February 9th, Directors decided on next
steps which, in keeping with our sectoral management governance, will
include gathering input from members in each sector, reviewing this
information at an upcoming Board meeting in March, and putting a
recommendation back to the members in each sector for consideration by
April. Our final goal is a CPEPC "mandate" that we know has good grass
roots acceptance and that we can table for approval at the AGM in June
in Saskatoon.
Members in each sector will receive more information regarding how to
access the report, and timelines for input to their Sector Chairs and
Manager. Any member with additional questions is urged to contact Robin
Horel at Council office.
Board of Directors – In addition
to the discussion and determination on next steps for the Association
Synergy Project already noted above, the Board also discussed plans for
our upcoming Convention being held at the Delta Bessborough in Saskatoon
from June 6th – 9th. The financial report was reviewed and a preliminary
budget for 2010/11 was adopted along with an agreement on a small
increase in fees for the new fiscal year. Members will receive invoices
for fees in March.
Poultry – Members from three of Council’s
six sectors – primary chicken, primary turkey and poultry further
processing, met to discuss topics that affect all poultry processing
members. The attendees heard presentations from: Erica Charlton,
Council’s Technical Director, who reviewed the major issues discussed at
the POTC meeting (these items are reported elsewhere in Highlighter
under the POTC review section) and Guy Giroux, Keltie Findlay Leclair
and Ann Marie Broadbent from International Trade Canada who updated
attendees on the chicken and turkey TRQ usage and issues and on the IREP
program.
In addition to these presentations, attendees received an update from
staff on Canada’s AI surveillance program (CanNAISS) including the
launch of the Hatchery Supply Flock component. An overview of the
Industry / CFIA post mortem meeting on the 2009 AI incident in BC as
well as CFIA’s new draft H1N1policy rounded out the technical issues
discussed.
CPEPC chicken and turkey members have agreed that food safety be
considered a non-competitive issue with regard to promotion, advertising
and labeling. Further work regarding whether this position can be made
more proactive (potential agreement on sharing of best practices,
establishing a Code of Practice, liaison with other like minded
organizations and potential to establish a network for sharing of best
practices, etc.) has been referred to CPEPC staff for further analysis
and recommendation.
Elections for CPEPC Directors reconfirmed René Proulx & Reg Cliche from
Chicken Sector, Ed Rodenburg & Craig Richardson from Poultry Further
Processing Sector and Jeff McDowell & Craig Evans from Turkey Sector.
Jamie Falcao and Yvan Brodeur were re-elected as TQAC representatives
and will be joined by newly elected representative, Paul Borg. Members
were pleased to again have Bill Smirle, Chair of Farm Products Council
of Canada (FPCC) attend their meeting in its entirety. CPEPC expressed
its gratitude for Bill’s efforts and leadership for the good of all
industry stakeholders, over the past few years. We will miss him as he
is affected by the forced age retirement provision in the Farm Products
Agencies Act.
Turkey – All turkey sector member companies
attended the turkey sector meeting. Mr. Smirle from FPCC also attended
the meeting. Ongoing issues with the wholesale market and discussions
about the Canadian turkey supply chain dominated the agenda. Members
approved a plan to provide CPEPC staff with ongoing data through survey
that will be collated and used to assist industry better determine the
supply of product needed for both the bagged and further processed
markets. This information along with the work that has been done on
establishing market indicator benchmarks on a periodic basis throughout
the year is seen as the best way to move forward. Members also reviewed
the process that TFC has embarked on to get the allocation regulations,
including audit and penalty provisions, in place as soon as possible.
Turkey sector agreed on CPEPC input into TFC’s strategic plan and staff
was mandated with conveying that to the Agency.
Elections resulted in Christian Chevrier (Director East) and Wayne
Urbonas (Alternate West) being re-elected as our representatives to the
TFC Board. In addition, Christian Chevrier, Gary Martin & Wayne Urbonas
were re-elected as representatives from their various regions to the
Turkey Market Advisory Committee (TMAC) at TFC.
Chicken – The Chicken Sector of CPEPC met
on Tuesday February 9, 2010 with representatives from all but one member
in attendance.
The members heard a presentation from Farm Products Council of Canada
Chair, William Smirle on the final report of the Oversight Committee and
of the comments FPCC heard during its recently completed Trans Canada
tour meetings with producers and processors in each province. Mr. Smirle
explained that he would be presenting a written report to FPCC members
later in the week and subject to their acceptance of that report it will
be presented to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and then
circulated to industry. Mr. Smirle’s term as Chair of FPCC will expire
in February and the sector members expressed their heart felt
appreciation for Mr. Smirle’s leadership and tireless work to improve
Canada’s supply management chicken system during his tenure.
A number of items on the agenda of Chicken Farmers of Canada effecting
processors were discussed. These included; CFC committee membership,
CFC’s Production Policy Committee work-plan, market development program
review, processor margin, and differential growth. In the afternoon the
Executive and senior staff of the CFC joined the meeting as is customary
at the CPEPC February meeting. A productive exchange between the CFC
leadership and CPEPC members occurred on a number of items including
items related to allocation setting, including the report card and
processor margin, and on matters related to the FPCC including the
judicial review applications and quota allocation approval indicators.
Members also discussed items related to the EMI wholesale price series
as well as the AgriStats processor cost model.
Annual elections were held for CPEPC Director and Alternate on the CFC
Board. Reg Cliche and Lucy McKee were re-elected to Director and
Alternate positions respectively.
Egg Further Processing – All
member companies were present at the egg further processing sector
meeting. The principal issue discussed was the contract negotiations
between the sector's Processor Advisory Committee (PAC) and the Egg
Farmers of Canada (EFC) Executive Committee. Both sides met in Toronto
on January 18th and members were updated on outcomes of the meeting. PAC
and the EFC Executive departed the meeting with a renewed sense of a
need to work cooperatively toward common goals addressing the long term
solutions to the current system’s shortfalls. The 2010 Pooled Income
Fund (PIF) opening balance was $33 million compared to the 2009 opening
of $ 66.4 million with a forecasted closing of $24.6 million. Members
continued to discuss concerns associated with the ongoing trend of the
short supply of domestic eggs and the heavy reliance on imports to meet
current market demands. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency delegation
provided an update on the member initiated regulatory change request to
lower the Canadian solids standard for whole egg to the internationally
recognized standard adopted by the International Egg Commission. Members
acknowledged CFIA delegation’s effort on this file.
Elections resulted in Mike Vanderpol re-elected as Sector Chair and
Director to the EFC Board. CPEPC’s Egg Processing Tariff Quota Advisory
Committee representatives for the 2010/11 term will be Ian McFall and
Aaron Kwinter.
Egg Grading – As customary, every
region of the country was well represented with the majority of members
in attendance. The agenda provided for delegations from Egg Farmers of
Canada (EFC), the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Export
Import Control Board (EICB). EFC delegates updated members with the
status of the Transportation Project in Western Canada. Members fully
support EFC’s efforts to reduce costs to the system. To ensure minimal
disruption during transition, a discussion with EFC ensued on measures
to mitigate foreseeable problems that may arise with outsourcing
transportation. EFC invited CPEPC and other impacted stakeholders to
participate in their work on an Egg Traceability Program. Similar to the
egg further processors, the egg grading sector members have to rely on
imports to meet the current table market demand. CFIA delegation
provided members with an update on the proposed changes to the HACCP
guidelines. EICB’s Keltie Finlay-Leclair provided a breakdown of the
Tariff Rate Quota allocation 2009 usage and 2010 volumes. The meeting
concluded with a discussion on the final report on the Association
Synergy Project and the sector plan on building a consensus position for
CPEPC’s Board of Directors consideration.
Elections resulted in Scott Brookshaw replacing Bill Gray as the
Director to the EFC Board. CPEPC’s Egg Grading Tariff Quota Advisory
Committee representatives for the 2010/11 term will be Bill Gray and
Muneer Gilani.
Hatchery – The Canadian Hatchery
Federation (CHF) met on February 9th. Attendees heard an update from
Brent Montgomery, FPCC’s Vice Chair, who attended the meeting in its
entirety. Many technical issues were discussed including on farm broiler
surveillance and hatchery salmonella surveillance under the CIPARS
program; an update on IBH; and a review of CFIA’s H1N1 draft policy
along with a birds eye view of how to deal with H1N1 from one of our
members who has experienced it personally. Dr. Teresa Cereno, Head of
Hatchery Programs at CFIA gave an update and summary of the initiatives
she has been working on since taking the position last fall. CHF members
welcomed Dr. Cereno’s approach and look forward to a renewed working
relationship with CFIA on many of the projects that have lied dormant
over the past couple of years. Attendees were given an update on the
Hatchery Supply Flock component of CanNAISS and reminded of the
importance of timely communication with CFIA regarding supply flock
information needed to ensure the sampling is done correctly and
according to protocol.
Hatching Egg & Chick TRQ utilization and information was provided by Guy
Giroux, who joined the meeting from International Trade Canada. A
proposal to change the procedures for supplementary imports, presented
by CHEP, was debated by members and discussed with a delegation from
CHEP and with Mr. Giroux. The CHEP delegates included Giuseppe Caminiti,
who members were pleased to see again in his new role, along with Viki
Sikur. In addition to the proposed changes to the Supp. Policy, Giuseppe
and Viki gave members an update on their FPA, compensation in the event
of AI, trade issues, some summary data for 2009 and animal welfare, CPRC
and other technical issues. CHF and CHEP have agreed in principle with a
CFC proposal to establish an industry working group on AMR / AMU.
Rounding out the meeting was an update on CPEPC’s work to hire a
replacement Hatchery and Turkey Sector Manager, in depth discussion on
the Synergy project and agreed to next steps for CHF, discussion about
the upcoming convention in Saskatoon and Regional Representative
reports. Speaking of Regional Representatives, the slate remains
unchanged for broiler and turkey hatcheries. A conference call will be
scheduled in the near future for leghorn hatcheries to determine their
Regional Representative as well as the Director to the Egg Farmers of Canada. Tom
Fleming – Director and Ernie Silveri – Alternate were re-elected to the
CHEP Board. An election resulted in Rick Weiss becoming CHF’s new Chair
and Gerry Kennie the Vice Chair for the new year.
Chicken Farmers of Canada held its first meeting of 2010 on February 3,
2010. The domestic allocation for period A-98 (May 23 – July 17, 2010)
was established during these meetings at Base plus 2.0 percent or 152.95
mkgs along with 9.3 mkgs for Market Development production. The domestic
allocation represents an increase of 1.7 percent over actual production
during the same weeks of 2009. The CPEPC had recommended an allocation
equal to Base as history over the past several years shows the market is
growing at just over 1 percent on average and in consideration of both
A-96 and A-97 being set above this level at Base plus 2 percent. Market
indicators however improved between when the CPEPC had submitted its
recommendation of Base and the time of the CFC meeting and while still
apprehensive regarding the ability of the market to absorb an increase
of 2 percent, the CPEPC directors supported the motion to set the
allocation making it a unanimous one.
Also on the agenda was further discussion on the Report Card and in
particular, the development of a healthy range for the Processor Margin
component. In an effort to advance this issue and remove
misunderstandings and apprehension on the part of provincial boards,
CPEPC offered to meet with any provincial board that would be interested
and have an in-depth “kitchen table” discussion regarding the Processor
Margin and related aspects of the Report Card and mid-term Growth Target
concepts. This offer was readily accepted by most provinces and meetings
will be scheduled in the spring.
Discussion continued as well on the development of a Differential Growth
policy. Some provinces continued to express a lack of support for a
policy indicating they have not been convinced that there is a need for
one and that they could not support any of the proposals made to date.
While a majority of provinces continue to support the need for a
differential growth policy, the unanimous support of all provinces would
be required in order to approve such a policy. The CFC Executive will be
considering next steps and it is expected that this issue will again be
on the agenda for the next CFC meeting in March.
Agriculture Ministers Focus On The Economy, Growth And Market
Opportunities For Canadian Producers
Federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of Agriculture met
February 5
on a range of issues critical to the long term success of farmers and
the agricultural and agri-food sector across the country.
The meeting, co-chaired by the Honourable Gerry Ritz, federal Minister
of Agriculture, and the Honourable Bob Bjornerud, Saskatchewan's
Minister of Agriculture, focused on the economic situation, the
competitiveness of the sector and ongoing efforts to strengthen Canada's
food safety and livestock traceability systems.
"Canadian agricultural products are among the best in the world," said
Minister Ritz. "With the Market Access Secretariat now fully up and
running, we are working with provinces and territories, and with
industry, to identify their market priorities, both domestically and
abroad, to ensure we seize every opportunity to sell our products."
Ministers discussed the Business Risk Management (BRM) strategic review,
recognizing the need to look to the future. FPT governments will
initiate consultations with producers and agricultural groups on the
challenges facing the sector, BRM programs and the opportunities that
lie ahead. The results of those consultations will be reported back to
Ministers at their next meeting.
"Governments have a responsibility to listen to producers," Minister
Bjornerud said. "Farmers and ranchers are the first people impacted by
the policy and programs we create. We need to engage our producers as we
work to improve our Business Risk Management programming."
Governments are also determined to ensure that programs continue to
respond to the sector’s needs, including the examination of options such
as livestock insurance, to help producers secure a stable and prosperous
future.
The federal, provincial and territorial agriculture ministers will hold
their annual meeting in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, July 6-8, 2010.
from
AAFC News Release
Sunrise
Farms Enters the Alberta Turkey Industry
The Board of Directors of the Alberta Turkey Producers is pleased to
announce that Sunrise Farms will be entering the turkey processing
business. Starting with the 2010/11 quota year Alberta will have three
federally inspected plants to handle turkey production from licensed
Alberta farms. Two of these plants will be handling commercial
production while the third operates primarily as an organic processing
plant.
Sunrise Farms is a major processor of chicken in both Alberta and
British Columbia. Sunrise operates several processing plants in British
Columbia and one facility in Lethbridge, Alberta.
Alberta Turkey Producers Press Release
Conferences, Courses and
Workshops
Next Highlighter edition will be
March 5 to accommodate staff vacations |
