Amendments to Meat Inspection Regulations, 1990

On April 7, 2012, amendments to the Meat Inspection Regulations, 1990. were published in the Canada Gazette Part I, for a 30 day comment period.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is currently reviewing all comments received by stakeholders and the Canadian public on the proposed amendments.

Proposed Amendments

Changes to the Meat Inspection Regulations, 1990 will not affect food safety. The proposed amendments provide operators greater flexibility in meeting federal meat inspection requirements. For example, the CFIA is proposing to allow inspected on-farm slaughter, in limited situations.

Inspected On-Farm Slaughter

In certain cases, inspected on-farm slaughter would be allowed, under strict veterinary supervision. Inspected on-farm slaughter will help protect animal welfare by allowing injured animals (e.g., those with a broken leg) to be slaughtered on the farm. Such animals, while safe for human consumption, cannot be humanely transported. In these situations, a veterinarian would perform a detailed examination of the animal prior to slaughter to ensure that it is fit to enter into the food system. The same stringent inspection requirement would apply upon arrival at the meat processing facility.

More information on the full suite of changes to Meat Inspection Regulations, 1990 on the Canada Gazette website.