In an e-mailed statement to Meatingplace, Richard Rabkin, managing director of the Kashruth Council of Canada (COR), said the goal of the lawsuit is to have the new regulations declared “inoperative and invalid,” and to re-instate the prior regulations.
The two organizations have been in dispute since 2019, when the CFIA adopted “Safe Food for Canadians” regulations — which specify slaughter practices that are, according to COR, at odds with kosher methods.
Now, the Jewish Community Council of Montreal and the COR, which manage kosher practices, approvals and product labeling, have sued the CFIA. Two kosher meat companies are also part of the suit.
“We were caught by surprise by these new regulations and dialogued with the CFIA for years to try and find a workable solution,” Rabkin said.
“But approximately a year and a half ago, the CFIA began implementing these new regulations, which have caused tremendous hardship to kosher slaughter in Canada.”
“Despite our outreach, the CFIA did not reverse course,” said Rabkin, “and as such, we felt we had no choice but to file our motion in the Canadian courts to contest these regulations.
“We of course remain open to a mediated solution with the CFIA, but if not reached, we will proceed with this action, which we believe is fundamental to our constitutional rights in this country.”
