Government of Alberta Handout photo

By Chris Brown

Where's the beef?

Changes to Meat Inspection Regulation offer new opportunities

Jul 29, 2020 | 12:27 PM

The provincial government says Albertans will have improved access to locally produced meat with the changes to the Meat Inspection Regulation today.

“Alberta produces the world’s best beef, pork and poultry products, and Albertans want better access to these products,” said Devin Dreeshen, minister of agriculture and forestry. “These common-sense changes will also provide new economic opportunities for Alberta ranchers and provincial abattoirs. Albertans value knowing where their food comes from and are proud to support local farm families.”

The changes also reduce red tape, says the government. Grant Hunter, associate minister of red tape reduction, and modernize Alberta’s Meat Inspection Regulations to align Alberta with other provinces.

The changes come as a result of consultation with industry and other stakeholders and include:

• Increased licensing options for personal use slaughter. Consumers can now buy an animal direct from the farm and have the animal slaughtered on-site for their personal consumption.
• Allowing provincially licensed meat facilities to salvage and sell meat by-products. As a result, abattoirs will be able to expand into markets that use meat by-products for human consumption, pet food and wildlife bait.
• Allowing for video pre-slaughter inspections in emergency situations. Abattoirs won’t have to wait for an appointed inspector to arrive in person on-farm to perform an inspection if animal welfare is at stake.

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Kelly Smith-Fraser, chair of the Alberta Beef Producers and a Pine Lake rancher, says Alberta beef producers have been asking for increased processing capabilities for several years and this is a positive step forward to address the issue.

Since 1973, the Meat Inspection Regulation and the Meat Inspection Act have provided oversight for animal slaughter and meat processing in Alberta. The legislation also provides authority for abattoir and mobile butcher licensing.