CFIA eases meat trade restrictions

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is proposing changes so small meat-packing plants in remote rural areas can market meat across provincial barriers.

The changes will be targeted, time-limited exemptions when there is unmet slaughter capacity., it said.

There is a 60-day public consultation period.

The proposed amendments  would allow the interprovincial movement and sale of low volumes of red meat under provincial oversight when there is unmet slaughter capacity, the CFIA 

To ensure food safety and no impact on international trade, the proposed exemption would include key safeguards. This includes limiting the exemption to low volumes of meat, ensuring traceability, and requiring the two provinces trading the meat to provide food safety oversight, and would be based on a CFIA risk assessment, it said.

The package also proposes amendments to reduce red tape by removing unintended work shift requirements for certain continuous activities, clarify inspection fees for certain meat activities at storages, and improve the clarity of regulatory requirements, it said.