The BC SPCA is encouraging Canadians to participate in a 60-day public comment period to help shape the future of organic farming in Canada. The comment period, now open until July 29th, invites feedback on proposed updates to the Canadian Organic Standards, the national guidelines for organic food production. These standards – updated once every five years – determine how animals are raised on organic farms, offering a unique opportunity for the public to advocate for farmed animals.
“This is a key moment for Canadians to have their say,” says Melissa Speirs, manager of farm animal welfare at the BC SPCA. “Organic farming already sets a higher bar for animal welfare, and we want to ensure these standards continue to improve.”
Organic production aims to minimize agriculture’s environmental impact to promote sustainability. The standards recognize that the health and well-being of humans, animals, and the planet are tightly connected, a concept known as “One Welfare.” The broad standards cover everything from soil and crop health to animal care.
The standards include requirements to improve animal welfare on organic farms, often going above and beyond conventional farming practices. Animals on organic farms have access to the outdoors, restrictions on physical alterations, are not housed in cages, and generally have more space to express natural behaviours – requirements that are not always common on conventional farms. Organic farms are also independently inspected to ensure the standards are being met – a level of oversight not mandatory for conventional farms.
Ensuring the requirements for raising animals on organic farms continue to improve is central to our mission of protecting vulnerable animals. The BC SPCA plays an active role in the review process, with Speirs serving on the Technical Committee, which updates the standards. Speirs advocates for science-based changes to improve the lives of farmed animals.
Public input is essential! The Canadian Organic Standards are reviewed once every five years, so your input today can help shape farming practices for years to come.
Note: This is a technical survey – the guide linked below will include instructions on how to submit your feedback.
Improvements that the BC SPCA is happy to see in the proposed update:
- Animal handling standards emphasize low-stress, calm handling through training, proper facility maintenance, and acceptable equipment. Electric prod use has been further restricted to emergencies only.
- Environmental enrichment requirements for when animals are housed indoors. All animals must have daily access, and suitable species-specific examples are provided.
- Unweaned dairy calves must be housed in pairs or groups to meet their social needs.
- Reducing the time sows can be confined in gestation or farrowing crates. Confinement of sows in gestation or farrowing crates is prohibited, except for periods of temporary restraint to a maximum of four hours (previously up to three days was permitted).
Areas that the BC SPCA would like to see improved in the proposed update:
- Due to the fast growth of modern broiler chicken breeds used in commercial production, they face many health and welfare risks. A requirement to use only slow-growing broiler chicken breeds should be included to avoid these risks.
- Tie stalls must be phased out of organic dairy production by 2030. In the meantime, it’s proposed in the update that dairy cows in tie stall housing must have an exercise period at least twice a week for at least one hour. This is not enough untethered time for dairy cows and should be increased.
- Transport is a stressful time for animals, and it should be minimized to protect animal health and welfare. More requirements should be added to encourage direct transport from the farm to the final destination and reduce transport time. A requirement that transport should not exceed eight hours should be added to the standard.
- The use of glue boards to mitigate rodent infestations should be prohibited in this update.
- More specific requirements for insects should be added to this update.
Your voice matters. Together, we can help ensure Canada’s Organic Standards continue to reflect high animal welfare and consumer transparency. Review the proposed changes, view our recommendations, and learn how to submit your feedback!
Note: This is a technical survey – the guide linked below will include instructions on how to submit your feedback.