PigSAFE is the new name for the CQA program, the Canadian Pork Excellence platform’s food safety component.
The same Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) model used in the CQA program also retains biosecurity elements developed by the Canadian Swine Health Board in 2011.
Producer-led committees developed the program reviewed by expert validators and tested on 73 farms across Canada.
PigCARE is the revised Animal Care Assessment program. This version of the program will account for introducing the 2014 Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs. Mark Fynn, manager, quality assurance and animal care programs, addressed the fall producer meetings of Manitoba Pork on some key date changes.
“I’ve always felt excellent programs to develop good habits amongst producers when it comes to food safety and animal care,” said MPC chair George Matheson.
Fynn said the good news for producers is the extra time for more producers to join the programs. The CPC board of directors passed a motion in July to allow farms to stay on the CQA programs until their validation in 2023.
“That’s regardless of whether you’re due for a full or partial validation in your cycle,  2023 comes you have to validate Pigsafe, Pigcare,” he said. “Manitoba Pork board also passed a motion to accept that approach.”Fynn said business as usual 2020, 2021 and 2022 validations, following the typical or usual three-year cycle, the full partial.
He emphasized when the producer’s 2023 validation comes up, it must be PigSafe, PigCare validation. It’s worth noting that the first validation must be a full validation, a full onsite validation, no matter where in the typical CQA cycles.

“Decide when you want to join, but no later than the 2023 validation,” said Fynn. “If you want to join before your 2023 validation this year, next year, or 2022, you are most welcomed to do so. But again, that first validation has to be an onsite full validation to get you registered onto the new programs.”
Fynn said during these COVID-19 times, and there could be some reluctance or fear of an onsite visit, a special process to give more time to do so, but requires a paper remote validation before the producer’s expiry date.
“We can put in a special process that we can follow up with a visit within six months after completion of the paper validation,” he said. “It is important if a producer wants a special exemption; it’s only for people due for full validations. For a partial remotely, make sure to contact Manitoba Pork before your expiry date, don’t go past and expect MP to do something for you retroactively; contact us before your expiry date.”Fynn said if a producer is unsure of his expiry date, contact him to verify the type of validation needed.
In response to the poll question, half the people said having that extra time in 2023 works for them. About a quarter of the people said that the original plan was okay, and this one’s good too, and then about 21 per cent said they’d like to have more time. •
— By Harry Siemens