Kody Blois has axed a number of Canadian Food Inspection rules and regulations to make Canadians more competitive with the United States.
It is one of the first things he did after new Prime Minister Mark Carney appointed him agriculture minister.
One of the regulations that will go is the requirement to remove specified risk material from cattle carcasses, a rule that came into effect when bovine spongiform encephalitis was discovered in the brain of a cow that died in Alberta in May, 2003.
Canadian farmers and meat packers have long lobbied for an end to the regulation which puts them at a competitive disadvantage with the United States. It is estimated to increase their costs by $31.7 million a year.
“We know that is a crucial time right now for Canadian farmers and we have to be doing everything in our control to reduce costs,” Blois said in a video posted on X.
The CFIA will also be speeding product approvals to provide alternatives to U.S.-sourced animal feed. The move was touted to alleviate tariff pressures on feed producers by making more feed ingredients available in Canada or from other countries.
Blois said the CFIA will also address “stakeholder irritants” through regulatory changes. Canada will explore increasing the maximum slaughter age for feeder cattle to 40 weeks from 36.
Harmonizing Canadian testing requirements for salmonella at hatcheries with U.S. regulations is also in the works.
Blois said “outdated prescriptive requirements” would be removed regarding labeling requirements for fresh fruit and vegetables. The CFIA will also continue to work on modernizing fruit and vegetable grades.
