Enforcement: Animal Welfare / Humane Handling and Slaughter of Food Animals

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) works with provincial and territorial governments on the humane treatment of all animal species, including farm animals.

The CFIA’s role is to verify that animals are treated humanely during transport and slaughter, in accordance with the Health of Animals Act and Regulations and the Meat Inspection Act and Regulations, respectively.

CFIA inspectors, including veterinarians, are present in federally registered establishments to verify that federal animal welfare requirements are being met.

Each province and territory has legislation concerning animal welfare on farms and the humane slaughter of food animals in provincially and territorially registered establishments.

Compliance with the federal Health of Animals Regulations and Meat Inspection Regulations is mandatory.

In cases of non-compliance with the Meat Inspection Regulations, the CFIA can take a number of corrective actions, such as those outlined in Chapter 14 and 18 of the Meat Hygiene Manual of Procedures.

In cases of non-compliance with the Health of Animals Regulations related to transporting animals, the CFIA can take a number of corrective actions, including

• Administrative Monetary Penalties;
• prosecution in the courts (in very serious cases). The CFIA publishes Prosecution Bulletins describing the outcomes of these cases; and/or
• suspending or cancelling a registration or licence. In some instances, these cases may also lead to prosecutions.

In circumstances involving animal abuse, offenders can also be charged by police services or the provincial or territorial Societies for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals under the Criminal Code of Canada and/or provincial and territorial regulations.