Return of Provincial Meat Inspection Activities to the Provinces of British Columbia, Manitoba and Saskatchewan

As announced in August 2011, the CFIA is returning provincial meat inspection responsibilities to the provinces of British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. This initiative will be fully implemented by January 2014. This transition does not affect federally registered establishments. This transition does not compromise food safety.

The ultimate food safety outcomes of these inspection systems will not change. All meat produced in Canada - either in federally or provincially inspected plants must meet the safety requirements of the federal Food and Drugs Act.

The CFIA has provided meat inspection services to provincially regulated establishments in these provinces for a number of years. In all other parts of the country, inspection of provincially regulated establishments is delivered by the provinces.

Returning the delivery of provincial meat inspection to these provinces will allow the Agency to focus its efforts on its core mandate.

Canada has always had federal and provincial inspection systems. The main purpose of federal inspection is to enable meat for sale through exports and interprovincial trade due to federal jurisdiction in these areas.  Meat that is intended to be sold out of province or exported out of the country must be inspected in federally registered plants where the CFIA is responsible for inspection.

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