Animal Care Assessment

The Animal Care Assessment (ACA) program provides pig producers with a way to evaluate and improve animal care on their farms and demonstrate this to customers. It covers areas such as stockmanship, care for the health of pigs, and equipment. ACA has been reviewed and supported by the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies, the Canadian Meat Council, the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors, and the Canadian Veterinary Medical Association.

ACA is linked to the Canadian Quality Assurance (CQA) program. It has been voluntary in the past, but by January 1, 2012 it will become a mandatory part of CQA. Producers who participate in ACA must already be part of CQA. While the ACA standards are based on the Code of Practice for the Care and Handling of Farm Animals: Pigs, ACA adds an external review component, which is performed by CQA validators.

See the Canadian Pork Council's Animal Care Assessment for more information.

Or go to Canadian Quality Assurance for more information on how the two programs fit together.