Annex K - Activity Code 9 - Inspection Facilities Approval

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1. Scope

This Annex describes the procedures for registered establishments to obtain eligibility to operate as an inspection facility for imported meat products.

2. Introduction

All establishments eligible for import inspection must be:

1. registered and licensed under the Meat Inspection Act and Regulations; and
2. have facilities designed for import inspection as described in section 2.6.6 of Chapter 2, MOP.

2.1 Import Reinspection Activity Code 9

Activity code 9 designates facilities approved for the inspection of detained or imported meat products. This code is further categorized as:

9 A = Cooked, frozen, boneless beef from South America

9 B = Meat products other than cooked, frozen, boneless beef from South America

9 C = Meat products not requiring refrigeration

9 B/US or 9 C/US = as above from the United States of America

Category 9 A is restricted to establishments located near Canadian seaports due to animal health concerns with foot and mouth disease in some South American countries. Eligibility for category 9 B/US or 9 C/US is described in section 5 of this Annex.

3. Legislation

Meat Inspection Act

9(2) Every person who imports a meat product into Canada shall, as soon as possible, deliver it, in its imported condition, to a registered establishment for inspection by an Inspector.

Meat Inspection Regulations, 1990

27.(1) An application for the registration of an establishment for one or more of the following activities shall be made to the Agency's Executive Director, Operations, for the area in which the establishment is or is to be located, in a form approved by the Director:

(c) the inspection of imported or detained meat products requiring refrigeration or freezing;

(d) the inspection of imported or detained meat products not requiring refrigeration or freezing.

4. Procedures for a Registered Establishment to Apply for an Activity Code 9

4.1

Operators of a registered establishment must contact the Inspector in Charge (IIC) of the facility to inquire about the addition of this activity code to their existing licence.

4.2

The Inspector in Charge will discuss the requirements associated with the activity code. The requirements for approval are:

1. For frozen/refrigerated products: The establishment meets the requirements for reinspection facilities as outlined in Chapter 2, MOP
   OR
   For products not requiring refrigeration an inspection room or designated area must be provided with adequate space for the anticipated volume and located within a compatible area of the establishment. Work tables of a suitable and sanitary design, a sink and lighting of 1000 lux are also required.

2. That inspection activities are able to be conducted at this establishment as outlined in Annex O of this Chapter, and the facility has the equipment necessary to handle the type of imported product being presented (e.g., sufficient space for the unloading, staging and sample selection of products for inspection, suitable storage areas etc.)
3. The Operator understands the responsibilities associated with approval to become a inspection facility and develop any required procedures if necessary. (e.g., documentation control, transportation requirements, seal control, inspection room sanitation procedures, etc.)
4. The Inspector has an office equipped as per section 2.6.8.1.1 of Chapter 2, MOP and the Meat Inspection Regulations 28(6)(b).

4.3

If the Operator wishes to proceed and can meet all the requirements as outlined in 4.2 above, the following information must be submitted through the IIC (with consultation from program specialist if required):

• a completed form CFIA/ACIA 4198;
• a summary of proposed changes;
• assurances from the operator that the proposal is in accordance with all requirements; and
• a copy of the blueprint reflecting the proposed changes.

4.4

All information from the Operator is to be carefully reviewed by the IIC and the Meat Programs Division (MPD) Import Program Specialist to ensure compliance with the regulations. Following this review, submissions requiring blueprint acceptance with be forwarded with recommendation for or against acceptance to the Area Program Specialist in charge of plant evaluation. Refer to Chapter 2 of the MOP.

4.5

A final inspection by the IIC and/or Area Program Specialist should be conducted and reported accordingly to ensure compliance with all requirements.

4.6

CFIA operations must provide confirmation they will be able to provide the service for re-inspection and the hours of operation for which inspection staff would be available (if applicable).

5. Registered Establishment Approval to Inspect Meat Imported from the US

Only establishments with approved activity codes 9 B/US or 9 C/US will be eligible to inspect meat products imported from the US.

Establishments must be registered with activity code "9" before they will be considered eligible for activity code 9 B/US or 9 C/US.

5.1 Procedures to obtain activity codes 9 B/US or 9 C/US

1. The US exporter must contact USDA/FSIS/Export Staff, Office of International Affairs, 14th & Independence Ave., SW, Rm. 2137 S, Washington, DC 20250, and request a specific Canadian establishment be listed for import inspection. Such requests must be accompanied by the name, address, postal code, phone, fax numbers and management contact of the Canadian establishment.
2. The USDA/FSIS/Office of International Affairs will make a request to the Chief of Import Programs, Meat Programs Division (MPD), in Ottawa to allow the specific Canadian establishment to inspect meat exported from the US.
3. The National Specialist, Import Programs, International Programs, Meat Programs Division (MPD), will notify the Operator of the Canadian Registered establishment of the request. If he is interested in this request, he should contact the Meat Import Program Specialist or the Import Coordinator at the Area Office responsible for this establishment.
4. The Import Program Specialist or Import Coordinator from the Area will make arrangements for an inspection to be conducted.
5. The CFIA Inspector must visit the establishment to verify the requirements have been met. A written report must provide assurances that the requirements noted in section 4.2 of this annex have been met.

6. The report should also indicate:

   1. For the following classes of meat products of which the establishment qualifies and wishes to provide a inspection service:

      R = Refrigerated
      FT = Frozen Thawed
      FO = Frozen Other
      NR = Non Refrigerated
   2. Confirmation that CFIA operations will be able to provide the service to those establishments and the hours of operation for which inspection staff would be available.
7. The Area Import Program specialist or the Area Import Operations Coordinator will verify information above and submit a written report along with his/her recommendations for acceptance/rejection to the Chief of Imports, Meat Programs Division (MPD), in Ottawa.

8. The Chief of Imports will review the report and if acceptable:

   • advises the CFIA Registrar of the establishment's activity code change; and
   • advise the FSIS of the establishment's inclusion for import reinspection.

5.2

A program review should be conducted every two years when import inspections occur on a regular basis or sooner if the establishment hasn't received an inspection assignment in the previous year. Annex K-1 of this Chapter should be used by the IIC to identify any deficiencies to program requirements. Corrective actions must be taken by the Operator in order to remain eligible for activities code 9.

6. Cancellation of Activity Code 9

Section 27 (4)(a) of the Meat Inspection Regulations states:

The registration of an establishment for an activity set out in subsection (1) of the Meat Inspection Regulations;

(a) shall lapse if the activity is not carried out in the establishment for a period of 12 consecutive months; and

(b) may be cancelled at the request of the registrant if no activity is carried out in the establishment and there is no licence to operate the establishment.

Operators that are not actively involved in import reinspection may have the activity cancelled in accordance with the above Regulation.