By Brian Konrad

Butcher shop owner likes new meat rules

Changes to Alberta meat regulations a step forward in mind of local butcher

Aug 6, 2020 | 11:00 AM

IRVINE, AB — 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.

The province recently made changes to the 47-year-old regulations in an effort to cut red tape and provide Alberta with greater access to locally produced meat, while maintaining food safety.

The co-owner of Deerview Meats in Irvine says the changes are a move in the right direction.

But Perry Deering says he has concerns about some of the changes.

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Consumers are now able to buy an animal directly from the farm and have the animal slaughtered on-site for their personal consumption.

But Deering says people need to be cautious.

“As a consumer, please, know who you are buying it from. Do not just go on Kijiji and buy a beef and think this is the greatest thing. Know the person that you’re buying that beef from because I’m here to tell you that beef now is going to be un-inspected”

Deering says an animal may look healthy, but knows from experience that post-mortem examinations can detect things like blood infections or drugs that haven’t cleared the system.

He has a background as a third-generation rancher whose business includes a mobile unit for off-site processing.

Deering says changes allowing video pre-slaughter inspection in emergency situations is good because it will allow meat from injured animals to be used, instead of the animal being euthanized and buried.