Following a re-assessment that took place throughout 2019, Chicken Farmers of Canada has reaffirmed its commitment to its Antimicrobial Use Strategy and to eliminating the preventive use of Category I, II, and III antibiotics. The re-assessment requires further consultation with industry in order to successfully eliminate the preventive use of Category III antibiotics. As a result, Chicken Farmers of Canada has extended the re-assessment timeframe to June 2020.

Here’s what you need to know about CFC’s Strategy, with a link below to a resources portal for further info.

CFC’s AMU strategy is a step-wise approach to eliminate the preventive use of antimicrobials of human importance (Category I-III). CFC’s strategy has been developed to provide a sustainable means of meeting consumer expectations, while protecting the health and welfare of birds, and preserving effective treatment options.

Reduction Timelines:

• Step 1: Elimination of the preventive use of Category I antibiotics in May 2014
• Step 2: Elimination of the preventive use of Category II antibiotics at the end of 2018
• Step 3: Eliminate the preventive use of Category III antibiotics

CFC’s AMU reduction strategy only focusses on preventive use of Category I, II and III antibiotics. This is not a “Raised Without the use of Antibiotics” strategy. CFC’s strategy continues to allow:

• The use of antibiotics for treatment of clinical or subclinical infectious diseases identified in a flock of birds
• The preventive use of ionophores (Category IV antibiotics)
• The use of chemical coccidiostats

Categorization of Antibiotics

Antibiotics are ranked (Categories I-IV) by Health Canada based on their importance to human medicine.

The following table provides the classification of antibiotics:

Chemical coccidiostats are not defined as antibiotics. These products include: Nicarb, Robenz, Amprol, Zoamix, Coyden, Stenerol, Clinicox and Deccox.

Farmer resources portal