Code EFABAR releases new update on “Code of Good Practice”
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During the annual general meeting of EFFAB on May 9, 2017, the new version of the voluntary code of good practice for farm animal breeding organisations, the Code-EFABAR 2017, was launched. Code EFABAR has always been a way for breeders to show their commitment to responsible breeding since its first launch in 2006. The new version, Code EFABAR 2017, has been designed to keep pace with demands on sustainable breeding now and in the future taking into account the societal challenges.
In a society increasingly interested in the health, welfare, environmental and other aspects of animal production and in the use of natural resources, it is important that animal breeders take responsibility for their part of the animal production chain. The many challenges animal breeders are facing these days should be addressed in a transparent order. Most consumers might be distant from the origin of the food products, yet they deserve honest information about the way their food is produced.
Since 2006, the code has been revised and updated every three years. However, Code EFABAR has been changed quite substantially in this update, version 2017, to address all societal challenges, even if these challenges cannot be met yet. To be accepted as a code of good breeding practise, an overall acceptance and trust from the society is a prerequisite.
Code EFABAR aims to contribute to increased transparency in the food production chain, building an understanding and a dialogue that is part of this process. As Ingela Velander from SEGES Danish Pig Research Centre explains: “In the society there is an increasing interest of what we are doing in breeding, we want to be very transparent and explain, the code actually helps us to do that very clearly”. Hans Stalhammer from Viking Genetics adds to this: “The code is actually helpful for us when we are communicating with our customers, to show them that we do have a plan of sustainable animal breeding and reproduction”. SEGES Danish Pig Research Centre and Viking Genetics were the first two companies to adopt the Code-EFABAR 2017.
Representatives of SEGES Danish Pig Research Centre and Viking Genetics received the first “Code EFABAR 2017” certificates at the annual general meeting of EFFAB on May 9, 2017.