The federal government continues to fend off critics’ allegations that because meat plants that process for the American market have more inspector “presence” than domestic-dedicated plants, Canadian consumers are at risk.
Since last November, the United States Department of Agriculture has insisted that an inspector be on the premises for every 12-hour shift if the meat product is bound for the U.S. market. Smaller plants that serve only the Canadian market may see an inspector as rarely as once a week.
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“Canadians are concerned that U.S.-bound meat and the U.S. population is receiving greater consideration than Canadians are,” Ontario Liberal Frank Valeriote told agriculture minister Gerry Ritz during a March 17 appearance at the House of Commons agriculture committee.
In the Commons, New Democratic Party food safety critic Malcolm Allen called it a double standard. “Why is this government not putting the health of Canadian families first?” he asked.
Ritz told Valeriote he is making a false distinction between plants. The large plants that supply U.S. buyers are also the major suppliers of ready-to-eat meats to Canadian customers.
“These aren’t isolated where one does domestic only and one does international,” he said. “These are integrated programs. When you have a vet on, he’s inspecting a meat line that may go international, may go domestic so it’s hard to say.”
Later, Canadian Food Inspection Agency policy and programs vice-president Sandra Wing told MPs the U.S. requirement to have an inspector “presence” during every 12-hour shift does not mean more inspection for south-bound meat products.
“I would say Canadians have no need to be concerned,” she said. The Americans audit the Canadian system every year and “if there were serious food safety concerns from an outcome perspective, we would not be able to send meat south of the border.”
She said the U.S. requirement that an inspector be on site for every 12-hour shift is a technical requirement.
“The U.S. requirement is a presence and that could be that you show up at the plant for 10 minutes of a particular shift, so we’re not talking about food safety outcomes here,” she said.
Bob Kingston, president of the Agriculture Union of the Public Service Alliance of Canada representing inspectors, said it is preposterous to imagine an inspector showing up and not inspecting.
“I think the Americans will be interested to hear that comment.”
And while the government insists inspectors spend as much time at Canadian-dedicated plants during their weekly visits as they do with more frequent visits to larger plants, Kingston said more frequent visits lead plants to be more vigilant.
“Their own information shows us that the more often a plant is visited, the higher rate of compliance, and it makes sense.”
Much of the debate in Ottawa last week was a numbers game as critics said CFIA continues to be understaffed while the government said new hirings are taking place.
Cameron Prince, CFIA vice-president for operations, told MPs 35 inspectors for ready-to-eat meat plants have been hired and 35 more will be hired and trained after April 1.
“These folks don’t grow on trees and no one wants untrained people out there inspecting their food,” said Ritz.
Valeriote said Liberal analysis suggests the new CFIA staff being hired will replace inspectors who are retiring or have been switched to U.S.-destined food lines.
Government officials assured him CFIA inspector staff is increasing.
