Collaborating on science-informed animal care standards in Canada
By Egg Farmers of CanadaA commitment to rigorous standards for animal care is at the heart of Canadian egg farming. All registered egg farmers take part in our comprehensive national Animal Care Program, which is informed by the National Farm Animal Council’s (NFACC) Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pullets and Laying Hens.
So, what exactly is NFACC and the Code? Let’s break it down—how it’s created, who shapes it and why it’s essential to inform animal care in the Canadian egg sector.
What is NFACC?
NFACC is a national organization that brings together farmers, veterinarians, scientists, governments, industry, animal protection enforcement, food service and retailer representatives and animal welfare advocacy groups. Its role is to facilitate the development of Codes of Practice for farm animal care in Canada, review and recognize animal care programs that meet the Codes and provide a forum for dialogue on farm animal welfare.
What is the Code?
The Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pullets and Laying Hens is a comprehensive, science-informed national standard for the care and handling of laying hens in Canada. It provides clear, practical guidelines that farmers follow daily as part of the national Animal Care Program to maintain optimal hen health and welfare.
Who is involved?
The strength of the Code comes from its collaborative, science-driven process. NFACC acts as a facilitator, bringing together a wide range of experts to ensure the Code reflects current knowledge and broad societal values.
The multi-stakeholder committee responsible for drafting the Code includes:
- Egg farmers: Providing the perspective and farm-level experience of egg farmers and pullet growers across Canada.
- Veterinarians: Offering critical insights into poultry welfare, health and disease prevention.
- Animal welfare scientists: Contributing cutting-edge research and evidence-based conclusions from the research.
- Animal welfare advocates: Representing the perspectives of animal welfare organizations.
- Animal protection enforcement: Providing insights from welfare enforcement authorities.
- Government representatives: Ensuring alignment with government policies, regulations and/or trade or market signals as they relate to animal welfare
- Supply chain representatives: Including hatcheries, transporters and/or processors, egg graders/processors, retailers and food service providers, who understand supply chain inputs for egg production, market demands and consumer expectations.
What does the Code development process look like?
The draft Code is shared for public consultation, giving Canadians an opportunity to provide feedback. The committee then works through a consensus-based process, balancing science, practical feasibility and societal expectations to finalize a nationally recognized standard.
How are Codes maintained?
NFACC outlines a process to review and update Codes over time to reflect new research and evolving practices—helping keep animal care standards current, credible and aligned with industry best practices. A five-year review process is launched to reflect on progress and challenges since the Code was launched. The outcome is either to reaffirm the Code, proceed with an amendment or proceed with a full update. In addition to the process to conduct updates, full reviews of the Codes are conducted at core milestones.
Why is the Code important?
The Code provides Canadians with confidence that the eggs they enjoy are produced by farmers who follow science-informed standards for hen welfare.
The Code forms the foundation of Egg Farmers of Canada’s national Animal Care Program, which all registered egg farmers are required to follow. The Animal Care Program has been independently reviewed and recognized by NFACC, confirming that it includes all Code requirements. As the Code is updated to reflect the latest research and evolving practices, the Animal Care Program is also revised to stay current.
To learn more about how Canadian egg farmers care for their hens check out our article: Animal care is egg farmers’ top priority.