The Alberta government is showing it takes illegal meat processing and sales seriously.
Agriculture Minister RJ Sigurdson recently announced the introduction of the Meat Inspection Amendment Act in the provincial legislature.
If passed, the law would increase fines from a maximum of $10,000 to $100,000 for each offense.
An increase in the illegal processing of animals and sales of uninspected meats prompted the government to take this measure.
Alberta employs 65 meat inspectors and program specialists who support licensing, inspections and surveillance.
Meat inspectors conducted 29 investigations in 2023. They’ve conducted 59 investigations this year resulting in four convictions.