If meat comes from an approved provincial plant, some producers argue the products should be safe for all Canadians.
A resolution from the Alberta Beef Producers annual meeting wants the federal government to allow all plants to trade nationally that meet the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Points specifications.
Canadian Food Inspection Agency staff handle interprovincial trade, but that does not make sense to Alberta rancher Grant Hirsche, who operates a small abattoir and butcher shop at Okotoks.
Alberta plants are required to develop HACCP programs so that should be adequate for all Canadians, he said.
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“Right now we have spent thousands of dollars, me personally, in providing our little store here to become HACCP,” Hirsche said.
“I keep asking our government what incentive is there for me to become HACCP regulated? There isn’t any.”
Most of his customers do not know what HACCP means but he feels his products are safe for all Canadians.
“As a small provincial plant it is very hard for me to compete against the Cargills because I can’t even send my meat to Saskatchewan or B.C.”
The argument has been that interprovincial trade is difficult because some plants in other provinces do not have as high a standard as Alberta.
Cliff Munroe of Alberta Agriculture said legislation permitting interprovincial meat trade is at least a year away because plants across the country must reach a certain standard of procedures and sanitation.
“That legislation is still pending and we are pursuing it,” he said.
British Columbia is working to bring its plants up to par. With the exception of the Lower Vancouver Island, Fraser Valley and some central interior regions, most plants were not inspected, said Don Davidson of the B.C. Food Processors Association. His group has been assigned to help plants reach a standardized provincial inspection system by Sept. 30, 2007.
Some may end up going out of business because of the cost, he said.
“There is some challenges in getting some small operators adapting,” Davidson said.
The food processors association said some may not meet the deadline because of the more stringent regulations as well as the need to hire construction workers and find proper building materials for upgrades. The province provided a total of $4 million for capital costs and other required improvements.
It is estimated B.C. has between 80 and 100 plants, as well as individuals providing slaughter services.
“We are working with 52 plants right now to help them through the licensing process,” Davidson said.
Most slaughter operations within provinces are small and there is a fear some areas could lose the service altogether once the regulations come into effect. Proposals have been made for mobile slaughter operations to serve some regions.
