Modernized Slaughter Inspection Program for hogs

Progress on food safety, plant protection, animal health and market access can only happen through collaboration, partnerships, open communication and strong relationships – particularly between the regulator and the regulated.

This principle is the foundation of the CFIA's pilot approach to the Modernized Slaughter Inspection Program in Hog (also known as MSIP-Hog).

"The MSIP-Hog pilot undertaking is a key initiative in the modernization of our inspection activities," says Kelvin Mathuik, Western Area Regional Director and Champion of the pilot program.

"A central element in moving this pilot forward is high engagement with staff, unions, academia and industry," Mathuik says. "Guided by a number of performance indicators, we'll be able to assess the MSIP inspection model from a food safety perspective as well as the Agency's responsibility from an inspection oversight role."

Movers and shakers

From the outset, this pilot was grounded in the guiding philosophies of transparency, engagement and innovation to foster an atmosphere that embraces the values of learning, adapting, and evolving.

CFIA inspectors, unions, industry and other stakeholders have all been involved to shape this inspection pilot.

MSIP moves traditional inspection to a more risk-based approach that enhances industry responsibility and an inspector's capacity to focus on true areas of risks to food safety. In addition to creating efficiencies, this approach also aligns Canada better with trading partners which, in turn, supports market access and trade.

One of the most significant changes being considered in the pilot involves industry taking over responsibility for identifying and marking defects. Under this new approach, CFIA inspectors will focus on food safety concerns by conducting a carcass-by-carcass inspection of pre-screened product.

What came first, the chicken or the hog

While the current pilot is in hog slaughter, the journey of modernizing our inspection approach began in poultry a number of years ago.

Industry fully embraced the Modernized Poultry Inspection Program (MPIP) and their responsibility for quality inspection of carcasses. However, at that time, there were lessons learned about the importance of consistent and regular communications.

This time around, the Agency has taken a fully collaborative approach as it prepared for and launched the MSIP-Hog pilot. After engagement with industry, two establishments in Alberta were selected as pilot participants. Moving forward, the pilot will be assessed and next steps in the MSIP-Hog program will be determined.

The Agency will continue to engage industry as decisions regarding the future of the MSIP-Hog program are made.