Regulatory Framework

  • Saskatchewan Agriculture, Food, and Rural Revitalization

    (SAFRR) is the provincial government department that approves new ILOs and monitors existing ILOs to ensure their compliance with environmental regulations. A Self-Evaluation tool has been developed by SAFRR to determine if application for a permit is necessary.

  • The Agricultural Operations Act

    requires operators to obtain approval for waste storage and waste management plans for intensive livestock operations. Agricultural Operations personnel provide technical support to applicants for facility design, nuisance and pollution control, waste management and public process. Applications are referred to agencies inside and outside government to identify issues which require resolution.

  • The Intensive Livestock Operations (ILO) Review and Approval Process

    outlines the mechanisms by which the provincial government approves new intensive hog operations in Saskatchewan.

Critics of the current regulatory framework point towards the problems inherent in having the same provincial department both regulate and promote ILO expansion throughout the province. As the SK Agriculture, Food, and Rural Revitalization website itself states:

"Saskatchewan, with its low cost feed grains, large land base, advanced production skills, and research & development capabilities, presents great pork production opportunities! The Department provides leadership, information and services to promote the pork industry expansion in the province."

The National Farmers Union (NFU) has examined ILO regulatory issues in other Canadian provinces, namely Alberta and Ontario. There are many parallels between regulatory issues in these jurisdictions, and those found in Saskatchewan. One of the common concerns around ILO regulation relates to the treatment of ILO's as an agricultural operation. According to the NFU:

"Legislation should reclassify these intensive operations as industrial enterprises, not farms. They would thus be excluded from the criterion of "normal farm practice", and treated as industries in regard to zoning by-laws, building codes, environmental assessment requirements, etc. "

Fairly current summaries of regulatory approaches from across North America is found on the Manitoba agriculture department website or the Ontario agriculture department website.

In Sweden, one legislative or regulatory change that has altered the entire hog production system is the banning of antibiotics as part of a regular feeding process. The Sustainable Agriculture Network (of US-based Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education) offers information about the Swedish-style hog production system on its website - Profitable Pork: Strategies for Hog Producers.