New Maximum Compensation Level for Layers

March 24, 2011 – Egg Farmers of Canada (EFC) today thanked Agriculture and Agri‐Food Minister Gerry Ritz for the amendments to the Compensation for Destroyed Animals Regulations.

March 24, 2011 – Egg Farmers of Canada (EFC) today thanked Agriculture and Agri‐Food Minister Gerry Ritz for the amendments to the Compensation for Destroyed Animals Regulations.

Minister Ritz and his officials in the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have consulted extensively
with Egg Farmers of Canada to ensure a maximum compensation that is in line with the market
value of laying hens. This amendment demonstrates a strong commitment to farmers and a
commitment to ensure livelihoods can be sustained when disaster strikes.

The Compensation for Destroyed Animals Regulations establishes maximum levels of compensation
that may be paid by the government when the Minister of Agriculture and Agri‐Food orders animals
destroyed under the Health of Animals Act. In the most recent amendments, a new category for
chickens producing eggs was created and the maximum established at $30 a hen.

The Minister told egg, chicken and turkey farmers about the new maximum levels while meeting
with them yesterday.

While it is rare that a flock of laying hens needs to be destroyed for the public good, it is important
to know that should this be required by the Minister, mechanisms are in place to provide a fair
market value for the destroyed animals.

Canada’s egg farmers are delighted the government listened to their concerns and agreed that this
amendment was necessary.