In order to demonstrate pigs are not fed Ractopamine, Canadian pork producers comply with the Canadian Ractopamine-Free Pork Certification Program. This assurance is supported through record keeping and routine audits throughout the supply chain. This includes farm and on-farm feed mill, commercial feed mill, and federally inspected processing plants.
What is the Canadian Ractopamine-Free Pork Certification Program (CRFPCP)?
The Canadian Ractopamine-Free Pork Certification Program provides assurance to international markets that pigs raised according to the program standards have never come in contact with Ractopamine and the pork produced is free of Ractopamine residues. This assurance is provided through thorough record keeping and routine audits at the farm and on-farm feed mill, commercial feed mill, and federally inspected slaughterhouse. All parties share the responsibility in establishing and maintaining this assurance.
What is Ractopamine?
Ractopamine is not a food safety hazard. It is a feed additive that increases protein synthesis. It is the active ingredient in products known as Paylean for swine and Optaflexx for cattle. Ractopamine should not be fed to male or female swine intended for reproduction, including pregnant or lactating swine or swine intended to be retained for breeding.
Why should I stop using ractopamine?
There are several export markets that do not permit the use of Ractopamine. The most important of these is China. Federally inspected processing plants target these markets and require hogs that are “Ractopamine Free”. If a producer wants to sell hogs to a federally inspected plant, the site Premise Identification (PID) must be registered under the Canadian Ractopamine-Free Pork Certification Program.
Even though provincially inspected slaughterhouses, which are unable to export, may accept pigs that have been fed ractopamine, there are so few of these operations they may not represent a viable market for all producers.
Who requested ractopamine-free pork?
China is Canada’s third largest pork export market valued at approximately $600 million annually with tremendous growth potential. China, along with other markets such as Taiwan and the European Union, all ban the use of Ractopamine. While not prohibited in Canada, there is unease about its use among consumers.
How to register a site under the CRFPCP?
- Demonstrate the site possesses a valid PID number;
- Demonstrate the site possesses a valid PigSAFE | PigCARE status;
- Demonstrate the site possesses barn-exclusive herd mark(s);
- Have Annex 5, On-Site Enrollment Assessment Checklist for Premise Identification (PID) Site and On-Farm Feed Mills, completed by an external assessor or a validator and sent to the Provincial Coordinator. A copy of Annex 5 must be kept on-site.
- Complete Annex 2, Agreement Between the Premise Identification (PID) Site and the Slaughter Establishment and send it to the slaughter establishment where pigs are shipped. A copy of Annex 2 must be kept on-site.
How to maintain a valid status under the CRFPCP?
To maintain the CRFPCP registration, Annex 5.1, Annual Assessment Checklist for PID Sites and On-Farm Feed Mills, must be completed by the validator and a copy must be kept on-site.
CRFPCP Requirements and Verification
The cards below lists the program requirements found in Annexes 5 and 5.1 and provides the list of documents that must be verified to assess the compliance of the requirements. The column labeled Deviation identifies the type of non-compliance, if a requirement is not met.
PID Site and/or On-Farm Feed Mill Requirements
1. The site and/or on farm feed mill possesses a valid PigSAFE | PigCARE status and the validation report has been kept on file since the last validation.
Verification
Certificate or letter of certification from the Provincial Office or contact the Provincial Office.
Deviation
Not Eligible
2. The site and/or on farm feed mill do not have any outstanding corrective action requests related to the PigSAFE | PigCARE programs.
Verification
Last validation report or contact the Provincial Office
Deviation
Minor
3. The site posesses barn-exclusive herd mark(s).
Verification
Each barn registered in the program must have barn exclusive herd mark.
Deviation
Not Eligible
4. This site and/or on-farm feed mill has not kept or manufactured feed containing Ractopamine in the last 12 months or since a clean-up was completed (in accordance with Annex 1) and records supporting these conditions are available to auditors upon request.
Verification
Verify a subset of the feed delivery slip and PigSAFE | PigCARE ration used on-farm record or completion of Annex 1, if applicable.
Deviation
Not Eligible
5. This PID site has a signed Annex 2 Agreement between the PID Site and the Slaughter Establishment stating that the PID Site met the requirements of the CRFPCP upon enrollment.
Verification
Verify the Annex(es) 2, Agreement between the PID Site and the Slaughter Establishment.
Deviation
Minor
6. The site and/or on-farm feed mill has obtained a signed Annex 3 (letters of guarantees) issued by an enrolled Commercial Feed Facility (Type A-B-D) and the annex is kept on file. (Annex 3 is not required for single feed ingredient listed on Schedule IV and V of the Feed Act) manufactured in facilities other than feed mills).
Verification
N/A
Deviation
Minor
7. The site and/or on-farm feed mill has started collecting or had the shopping documents or invoices (feed delivery slips) for each load of feed delivered since the last validation.
Verification
Verify a subset of feed delivery slips for each load.
Deviation
Minor
8. For on-farm feed mills, the PigSAFE | PigCARE programs feed mixing and sequencing records are maintained and kept on file from the last validation and are available for inspsection upon request.
Verification
Verify PigSAFE | PigCARE Feed Sequencing Mixing and Distribution Record.
Deviation
Minor
9. The site and/or on-farm feed mill has controls in place to ensure that feeds of unknown origin are not accepted.
Verification
Verify PigSAFE | PigCARE Ration Used On-Farm Record and Feed Delivery Slips or Tags.
Deviation
Minor
10. The site has all Annex 4, Swine Movement Document, demonstrating that incoming animals have not been fed with feed containing Ractopamine since the last validation or since enrollment.
Verification
Review a subset of the Swine Movement Document, Annex 4, for incoming animals.
Deviation
Minor
11. A copy of Annex 5 is kept on file stating the PID Site met the requirements of the CRFPCP.
Verification
Verify if the Annex 5 is on file.
Deviation
Minor
12. The person in charge is aware of the CRFPCP site manager or producer responsibilities.
Verification
Question the site manager or producer about their responsibilities (listed below).
Deviation
Minor
The site manager or producer must know and abide by their responsibilities to ensure compliance with the CRFPCP.
The responsibilities of the Site Manager and Producer
- Assist external assessors, Validators and/or foreign auditors with enrollment or assessment activities.
- Maintain a valid PigSAFE | PigCARE programs status.
- Identify and correct any deviations in a timely and appropriate manner, taking into consideration the seriousness of the deviation and its impact.
- In case of a major deviation, if Ractopamine is introduced or was likely to have been introduced to the site and/or on-farm feed mill, notify the Provincial Coordinator and slaughter establishment as soon as a deviation is observed on site or on-farm feed mill (maximum 24 hours).
- The following records must be kept on-site:
- Last PigSAFE | PigCARE validation report
- Annex 1: Clean-Up Procedures
- Annex 2: Agreement Between the Slaughter Establishment and the Site
- Annex 3: Letters of Guarantee from All Commercial Feed Facilities
- Annex 4: Swine Movement Document for all Incoming Pigs
- Annex 5: On-Site Enrollment Assessment for PID Sites and On-Farm Feed Mills
- Annex 5.1: Annual Assessment Checklist for PID Sites and On-Farm Feed Mills
- PigSAFE | PigCARE Ration Used On-Farm Record
- PigSAFE | PigCARE Feed Mixing and Sequencing Records
- Feed Delivery Slips
What to do if there is a change of ownership?
If a new site manager or producer is taking possession of a site or on-farm feed mill already enrolled in the CRFPCP the following responsibilities must be respected.
Responsibilities when a change or ownership occurs:
- Notify the Provincial Coordinator of any change of ownership
- Depending on the change of ownership, the Provincial Coordinator will indicate the requirements that the site must meet to maintain enrollment in the CRFPCP.
