Special Report

Revisions to the PQA Plus program

The National Pork Board’s newly elected president says updates have been made to the organization’s producer education program.

Jan Archer, a North Carolina pork producer says by fully incorporating the six We Care ethical principles of pork production into the Pork Quality Assurance Plus program it puts producers and consumers on the same page when it comes to how pigs are raised.  “We pledge and we promise that we will produce safe food,” she says.  “We’ll take care of our animals, we’ll take care of our employees and treat them with respect, we’ll take care of public health, that we’ll take care of our natural resources and we’ll make our communities a better place to live.”

She tells Brownfield the updated PQA Plus program also reorganizes the 10 Good Production Practices.  “It’s really important that people understand that the 10 Good Production Practices are the way that we demonstrate our commitment to our six ethical principles.”

2016 PQA Plus revisions:

• We Care: The We Care® ethical principles are now the chapters of this program and the ten Good Production Practices (GPP) are sub-chapters.
• Good Production Practices: The GPPs were reorganized and structured to better fit a consistent flow of materials for the caretaker that align with daily tasks formed from the We Care ethical principles. Now, the program takes you from the farm entrance (Biosecurity, etc); into the barn (work with vets, caretakers, animals, records, safety and environment); and then finishing with the community (volunteering, etc).
• Testing: To be certified in PQA Plus, participants will be required to pass a test including questions related to 10 Good Production Practices (GPPs). Participants must achieve a passing score by missing no more than three of the 25 questions.
• Online Certification: Producers may continue to renew their certifications online through the new interactive learning modules. The online training is divided into 14 individual modules that range from 2-14 minutes each.
• Site Assessment: The PQA Plus site assessment, which aligns with the Common Swine Industry Audit, helps prepare producers for third party auditors. The assessment covers animals, facilities, caretakers and records which highlight the 27 key aspects of swine care and pre-harvest pork safety for all phases of production.
• Trainers/Advisors Certifications: During face-to-face training of Trainers and Advisors, more extensive instructions and information will be shared to increase farmer interaction during PQA Plus training.
• SOP: Flexibility to the certification program allows for customization for larger systems to add in the company’s SOPs.
• Implementation: All revisions to PQA Plus will be effective June 8, 2016.
• Antibiotics: To help producers prepare for the implementation of FDA guidance 209 and 213, a 12-page Responsible Antibiotics Use Guide, and extended video coverage are included in this version of PQA Plus.

AUDIO: Jan Archer, National Pork Board