Dear friends of Indiana Pork:

A group of dedicated pork producers from across the United States, including Indiana producers Danita Rodibaugh and Mark Legan, began working last summer to produce a document that national leaders of our industry believe is vitally important to the future of the pork industry. That document is a statement of ethical principles.

The Board of Directors of the National Pork Board, the National Pork Producers Council and several state pork associations (including Indiana Pork) support this set of Ethical Principles which were adopted at the Pork Forum earlier this month. If pork producers are to continue to be able to chart their own destiny, they must have the trust of customers and of those who have the power to regulate.

This statement of ethical principles is the first step, the foundation in the process of building trust.

Ethical Principles for U.S. Pork Producers

PREAMBLE: U.S. pork producers
recognize our obligation to build and maintain the trust of customers and the public in our products and our practices.
To promote confidence in what we do and how we do it, we affirm the following ethical principles and code of conduct.
Food Safety: We affirm our obligation to produce safe food.
Pork Producers: Use management practices consistent with producing safe food. Manage the health of the herd to produce safe food. Manage technology to produce safe food.
Animal Well-Being: We affirm our obligation to protect and promote animal well-being.

Pork Producers: Provide feed, water and an environment that promotes the well-being of our animals. Provide proper care, handling and transportation for pigs at each stage of life. Protect pig health and provide appropriate treatment, including veterinary care, when needed. Use approved practices to euthanize, in a timely manner, those sick or injured pigs that fail to respond to care and treatment.

Environment: We affirm our obligation to safeguard natural resources in all of our practices.

Pork Producers: Manage manure as a valuable resource and use in a manner that safeguards air and water quality. Manage air quality from production facilities to minimize the impact on neighbors and the community.

Manage our operations to protect the quality of natural resources.
Public Health: We affirm our obligation to ensure our practices protect public health.

Pork Producers: Use management practices consistent with producing safe food. Manage the use of animal health products to protect public health. Manage manure and air quality to protect public health.

Employee Care: We affirm our obligation to provide a work environment that is safe and consistent with our other ethical standards.

Pork Producers: Provide a work environment that promotes the health and safety of employees. Educate employees on the Ethical Standards for U.S. Pork Producers and prepare them to meet their obligations consistent with these standards. Provide a work environment where employees are treated fairly and with respect.
The Communities in which we operate: We affirm our obligation to contribute to a better quality of life in our communities.

Pork Producers: Recognize that being welcomed and appreciated by the community is a privilege that must be earned and maintained.

Acknowledge that our practices can affect the trust a community has in pork production and our operations. Operate in a manner that protects the environment and public health. Play an active role in helping to build a strong community. Acknowledge community concerns and address them in an honest and sincere manner.
To view a list of Pork Forum adopted and defeated resolutions visit http://www.pork.org/NewsAndInformation/PorkForum.aspx?c=Resolutions

Sarah Ford,
Director of Industry and
Public Relations
Indiana Pork