New amendments to Alberta's Meat Inspection Regulation will cut red tape and provide greater access to locally produced meat while still maintaining food safety.
Devin Dreeshen, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry says Alberta produces the world’s best beef, pork and poultry products, and Albertans want better access to these products.
"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 amendments modernize Alberta’s Meat Inspection Regulations and align us with our partners in 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.
- The amendments also allow for video pre-slaughter inspections in emergency situations, meaning that 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.
The Province's Chief Veterinarian Keith Lehman says the changes make new tools available for meat inspectors, like video pre-slaughter inspections, and provide increased options for licensed slaughter for personal use.”
Kelly Smith-Fraser, Chair of the Alberta Beef Producers says these changes will give consumers another option to purchase beef.
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