A recent ruling in Manitoba has opened the doors for private insurers to provide coverage to that province’s egg producers, a ruling that may be followed in other provinces across Canada.
The ruling by Manitoba Farm Products Marketing Council means that egg producers in the province are no longer compelled to purchase their salmonella insurance from the representative body Manitoba Eggs Farmers (MEF) but can buy other suitable private insurance products.
“This decision marks a major change for the Canadian poultry sector,” says Sophie Dunkerley, class underwriter for livestock from Lloyd’s of London insurer AEGIS London. “It offers egg producers a real alternative and access to a competitive insurance market providing innovative and flexible products.”
Canadian Lloyd’s broker HUB’s 3D Poultry Disease Insurance – in conjunction with Lloyd’s coverholder A10K and certain underwriters at Lloyd’s – has been identified by MEF as a suitable alternative cover provider to the Canadian Egg Industry Reciprocal Alliance (CEIRA) policy.
The 3D Poultry Disease Insurance is the only product currently available before the council’s ruling.
Other provinces in Canada have been watching developments in Manitoba closely, says Dunkerley, as many also operate programs under which egg producers are compelled to purchase specific insurance products.
“3D Poultry Disease Insurance provides cover for the key infectious diseases that are a threat to the Canadian poultry industry,” says Dunkerley, “backed up by excellent customer service and claims management.”
The product from HUB offers comprehensive protection against government slaughter, economic slaughter and mortality. Specific diseases covered are Salmonella Enteritidis, highly pathogenic avian influenza, Newcastle disease and avian infectious laryngotracheitis.
