Ontario passes new small flock regulations

NEWS HIGHLIGHT

Ontario passes new small flock regulations
Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO) has passed a new small flock regulation in support of interested parties looking to raise a limited number of chickens.

Chicken Farmers of Ontario (CFO)
has passed a new small flock regulation in support of interested
parties looking to raise a limited number of chickens.

Main elements of the regulation include the ability to grow up to 300 chickens per premise, per year; ability to market these chickens at the farm gate and; on-line application, registration and administration of the program. The new policy comes into effect on January 1, 2009.
 
The small flock regulation was developed following industry-wide consultations and a pilot program in 2008. More than 8,000 people registered to participate in the pilot program. In 2006 exempt growers went from being allowed to raise 102 chickens per year without purchasing quota to being allowed to raise up to 300 chickens. Prior to the introduction of the pilot program none of the chicken could be marketed.
 
“The new regulation was developed based on consideration of a number of important issues and perspectives,” says Rob Dougans, chief executive officer with CFO. “The pilot program and consultation in 2008 were used to test and verify assumptions and operational considerations associated with the introduction of a new policy in support of chicken production for home consumption, with some flexibility to allow for farm gate sales.”
 
Dennis O’Connor, head of field operations with CFO, says that the health and safety of the consuming public is the primary consideration of any new initiative of this kind. “Related issues such as biosecurity and traceability, for example, must be properly evaluated.” Regarding the administration of the new regulation, O’Connor notes that one of the key elements of the regulation and one which CFO received a lot of feedback on from the pilot program was paperwork. “Accordingly, we’re working to develop a system to support on-line application, registration and administration of the policy that we’ll have in place in 2009.”
 
Additional information about the small flock regulation, including the on-line registration, will be available through CFO, www.cfo.on.ca and from broker dealers and hatcheries early in 2009.

Backgrounder on Small Flock Regulation:
 

• The new Regulation, No. 2228-2008, was made under the authority of The Farm Products Marketing Act, and is in effect as of January 1, 2009.

• Under the terms and conditions of this Regulation, a person may apply on an annual basis to be registered as an exempt grower by filing a Form 300. Every exempt grower’s registration shall terminate on December 31st in each year, unless it is terminated earlier by the Board.

• Under the terms and conditions of this Regulation, an exempt grower may produce chicken for home consumption and marketing at the farm premises without first being fixed and allotted a quota by the Board to produce chicken.

• Under the terms and conditions of this Regulation, no more than 300 chickens may be produced by the exempt grower in each calendar year and every exempt grower must complete a Form 300 on-line prior to the receipt of chicks.

• Under the terms and conditions of this Regulation, an exempt grower may market the chicken provided that: no more than 300 chickens are marketed; only chickens produced at the premises are marketed; all chicken shall be marketed at the premises and to purchasers who come to the premises and purchase the chicken for their personal consumption and; all chicken shall be marketed on or before December 31, in each year.

• Under the terms and conditions of this Regulation, hatcheries are required to ensure that exempt growers have completed a Form 300 on-line in relation to chicks being purchased and to report the sale of chicks to the Board within one week of the date of sale.

• Under the terms and conditions of this Regulation, exempt growers who have chicken custom processed are required to present a complete and accurate Form 300 to the processor for review and recording prior to the chicken being custom processed.