Environment fears spur Quebec hog farm moratorium
Date: 03-May-02
Country: CANADA
"We are suspending the delivery of new permits (to open hog farms) until June 15," Environment Minister Andre Boisclair told reporters in Quebec City, adding the government would unveil legislation next Tuesday to enforce the moratorium.
Pending hog farms permits will continue to be delivered, but only according to tougher new environmental regulations, to be defined later by a government committee, Boisclair said.
The Quebec Farmers Union and the province's Pork Producers' Federation supported the moratorium.
Boisclair said the government would review the issue in June, adding: "We will define the new rules before June 15."
Quebec is a major pork producer with large exports to the United States and Japan.
The government has supported the opening of large hog operations over the past few years to help boost exports, but that has fueled the anger of nearby residents who complain of strong odors from the large-scale operations which often contain thousands of animals.
Environmental groups also warn that large hog operations pose a serious water pollution threat because of runofff from the huge quantities of manure created by the farms.
