In a script familiar to Canada’s meat-packing industry, it’s
United States inspectors who have identified flaws at Canadian drug maker
Apotex.
In the 1970s, it was United States Department of Agriculture
inspectors who reported on hundreds of deficiencies at Canadian meat-packing
plants, deficiencies either not noticed or neglected by Canadian inspectors and
company executives.
Now the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has found
deficiencies in generic drugs manufactured at Apotex plants in the Toronto
area. It also identified mould.
Health Canada officials last inspected the plants in 2011.
As happened with meat, production continues at the Canadian
plants which sell to the Canadian public, but they were barred from selling in
the United States.
The situation for meat continues. Last year it was U.S. inspectors
who first identified E. coli 0157:H7 bacteria contaminating beef from the X.L
Foods Inc. plant at Brooks, Alta.
That led to the largest recall in Canadian
meat-packing-industry history, the temporary closure of the plant and eventual
sale to JBS USA.
The United States is a wonderful third-party auditor. But our Canadian inspectors don't seem to appreciate their help.
