MEAT INSPECTION REGULATION

The B.C. Meat Inspection Regulation (MIR 2004) was enacted as part of the Food Safety Act in 2004. The application of the regulation provincewide is being extended to Sept. 30, 2007.

The regulation provides consumers with the assurance that all meat and meat products are properly inspected for safety. It is estimated that 95 per cent of the meat sold in B.C. is inspected. The remaining five per cent is processed through non-licensed plants and unregulated farm slaughter.

In the past, provincial legislation did not require the licensing of all slaughter facilities or inspection of meat and meat products across the province. Provincial licensing and inspection requirements would only be applied at the request of local governments, resulting in a patchwork of inconsistent standards.

How Is Meat Currently Inspected?

The Province of B.C. inspects meat produced in the province which is strictly for domestic sale. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is responsible for inspecting meat entering B.C. from other provinces or countries and meat produced for export from B.C. and processed in federally licensed slaughter facilities.

There are an estimated 50 unlicensed meat processing plants located throughout the province that form part of the regional agriculture economy. They primarily provide custom slaughter services of livestock to rural communities. There are also a number of farms that slaughter and sell meat at the farm gate.

The old provincial Meat Inspection Act set out lengthy regulations that were antiquated and overly prescriptive. Over the years, the way in which standards were applied did not change, despite advances in the way food is processed. The regulations were often a barrier to the food industry as it tried to keep up with modern practices; they were also difficult to enforce.

Modernizing the System – Protecting Our Food and Health

Once fully implemented, the Meat Inspection Regulation will strengthen the system and ensure uniform animal health and inspection standards are in place across the province.

The regulation includes:

· Mandatory inspection before and after slaughter of all food animals, if the meat will be for sale.

· Consistent slaughterhouse construction and operation standards. While providing for consistency, these standards incorporate an outcome-based approach that allows flexibility in how the standards can be achieved. This flexibility allows diverse needs to be addressed, including those of small-scale producers and processors.

Benefits from licensed meat inspection facilities include food safety protection, mandatory animal health assessment, and opportunities for surveillance and enforcement of certain animal welfare standards. This includes:

· Mandatory animal health assessment (before and after slaughter).

· Trace-back potential to farms, and early warning system for emerging disease such as Mad Cow Disease (BSE).

· Assessment of animals conducted for infections, pathologies and antimicrobial residues.

· Required licensing for slaughterhouses, which must meet design, construction and equipment standards.

· Further credibility of the food animal industry, placing licensed plants in a favourable domestic marketing position.

· Humane treatment standards/compliance; inspectors often present to observe transport conditions, inspectors present during slaughter of animals.

With a modern meat inspection system in place across the province, the meat and livestock industry will enjoy greater certainty, consumer confidence and growth opportunities. During the expanded transition period, the Ministry of Agriculture and Lands, the Ministry of Health and the B.C. Food Processors Association (BCFPA) through its MIES (Meat Inspection Enhancement Strategy) program will continue to work with industry on a regional basis to facilitate adjustment to the new requirements.

The regulation does not apply to meat slaughtered at home for personal use and game cut and wrapped for personal use.

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Media contact:	Liz Bicknell Communications Director Ministry of Agriculture and Lands 250 356-2862 250 213-3072 (cell)	Marisa Adair Communications Director Ministry of Health 250 952-1889 250 920-8500 (cell)

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