Regulation - LGIC
Proposed Amendments to the Meat Regulation under the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001
Regulation Number(s):
O. Reg. 31/05
O. Reg. 223/05 Fees
O. Reg. 205/19
O. Reg. 223/05 Fees
O. Reg. 205/19
Instrument Type:
Regulation - LGIC
Bill or Act:
Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001
Summary of Decision:
The proposal was approved with no modifications. The amendments to Ontario Regulation 31/05 (Meat) under the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001 will take effect on July 1, 2019.
Analysis of Regulatory Impact:
The Ministry anticipates administrative costs to business in reading and understanding the amendments to the regulation. It is estimated that for each of the currently licensed provincial meat plants, it would take an average of 30 minutes to do this, amounting to an average annual present value cost of $1,800 (total for all plants).
The changes are expected to benefit the industry by providing cost savings and additional business opportunities. It is estimated the proposed changes would result in an average annual net benefit of $1.1 million for the industry.
The changes are expected to benefit the industry by providing cost savings and additional business opportunities. It is estimated the proposed changes would result in an average annual net benefit of $1.1 million for the industry.
Further Information:
O. Reg. 31/05 Meat - Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001
O. Reg. 223/05 Fees - Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001
Meat Regulation Amendment Proposal
(Download Adobe Reader)
Proposal Number:
18-MAFRA002
Posting Date:
November 19, 2018
Summary of Proposal:
The Ministry is proposing changes to O. Reg. 31/05 (Meat) made under the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001. The changes would reduce burden for provincially licensed meat plant operators in Ontario while maintaining food safety.
The proposed amendments would reduce administrative burden by removing the requirements for meat plant licence renewal (with a consequential change to O. Reg. 223/05 Fees) and allowing for the voluntary surrender of a licence when an operator no longer performs licensed activities.
Other amendments would clarify regulatory requirements for farmers and meat plant operators and provide additional business opportunities. It is proposed that changes would be made to clearly allow a farmer to have someone perform the slaughter of their food animal, on their behalf on their farm.
If certain regulatory processes are followed, the carcass of a food animal slaughtered on a farm can be brought to a meat plant for processing. The weeks of the year in which this can take place would be expanded from 16 weeks to 32 weeks of the year and there would be no restrictions on the maximum number of consecutive weeks in which this would be permitted.
To streamline the process of an emergency slaughter of an injured food animal on the farm, it is proposed that an appointed non-veterinary inspector be permitted to perform the post mortem inspection when the carcass arrives at a meat plant, rather than requiring an appointed veterinary inspector to perform this inspection.
The regulation would be clarified to allow hunted game products (for example, whole cuts of meat) to be further processed at meat plants.
To address the increasing demand for religious or ritual slaughter at meat plants, an amendment is proposed that would allow for carcasses slaughtered according to religion or ritual to be further distributed in certain circumstances.
To move to more outcome based requirements, it is proposed that the current requirements for a water sampling tap and a backflow prevention device at a meat plant be removed and allow for flexibility in how to achieve the outcome of a safe water supply at the meat plant.
The proposed amendments would reduce administrative burden by removing the requirements for meat plant licence renewal (with a consequential change to O. Reg. 223/05 Fees) and allowing for the voluntary surrender of a licence when an operator no longer performs licensed activities.
Other amendments would clarify regulatory requirements for farmers and meat plant operators and provide additional business opportunities. It is proposed that changes would be made to clearly allow a farmer to have someone perform the slaughter of their food animal, on their behalf on their farm.
If certain regulatory processes are followed, the carcass of a food animal slaughtered on a farm can be brought to a meat plant for processing. The weeks of the year in which this can take place would be expanded from 16 weeks to 32 weeks of the year and there would be no restrictions on the maximum number of consecutive weeks in which this would be permitted.
To streamline the process of an emergency slaughter of an injured food animal on the farm, it is proposed that an appointed non-veterinary inspector be permitted to perform the post mortem inspection when the carcass arrives at a meat plant, rather than requiring an appointed veterinary inspector to perform this inspection.
The regulation would be clarified to allow hunted game products (for example, whole cuts of meat) to be further processed at meat plants.
To address the increasing demand for religious or ritual slaughter at meat plants, an amendment is proposed that would allow for carcasses slaughtered according to religion or ritual to be further distributed in certain circumstances.
To move to more outcome based requirements, it is proposed that the current requirements for a water sampling tap and a backflow prevention device at a meat plant be removed and allow for flexibility in how to achieve the outcome of a safe water supply at the meat plant.
Contact Address:
Andrea Smallwood
Food Safety and Environmental Policy
1 Stone Road, Guelph, N1G 4Y2
519-826-3701
Food Safety and Environmental Policy
1 Stone Road, Guelph, N1G 4Y2
519-826-3701
Effective Date:
July 1, 2019
Decision:
Approved