Canada will enact a national ban on perpetually confining breeding sows in gestation crates. The ban is included in the National Farm Animal Care Council’s new Codes of Practice for the Care and Handling of Pigs. As mandated by the Codes, “For all holdings newly built or rebuilt or brought into use for the first time after July 1, 2014, mated gilts and sows must be housed in groups.” The Codes also make clear the future of sow housing in Canada must allow animals greater freedom of movement. Paul Shapiro, vice president of farm animal protection for The HSUS issued the following statement:
