Provincial Regulations
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs Food Inspection Branch ensures compliance with legislated standards for dairy, dairy analogs, eggs, fruit and vegetables, meat and livestock products.
meat inspection program
Meat Inspection Operations delivers continuous meat inspection services to licensed meat plants. Meat inspection services include monitoring plant operational practices, conducting ante- and post-mortem inspections of animals and carcasses in abattoirs, collecting and submitting laboratory samples and reporting plant and inspection statistical data.
Learn More
Responsibilities Under the Meat Regulation
Audit Program
Learn More
Microbial Monitoring
Effective January 2009, further meat inspectors will collect samples of RTE meat products. Starting in the spring, they will also collect swabs of food contact surfaces, utensils and equipment within plants that process those products.
Test results will provide operators with important information regarding the effectiveness of the food safety protocols in place in their plants. The program will also provide useful information about areas of potential contamination in their meat plants and the safety of their RTE meat products.
Learn More
Emergency Slaughter
The regulation has been amended to protect stakeholder investment by allowing for the emergency slaughter of food animals outside of a slaughter plant in certain circumstances. Changes to federal Specified Risk Material (SRM) requirements have been incorporated into emergency slaughter procedures.
Emergency slaughter may only be performed where authorized by a regional veterinarian appointed by the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). A regional veterinarian can only approve emergency slaughter where it is necessary.
Emergency Slaughter Scenarios
CFIA Permits for Emergency Slaughter
As of July 12, 2007, a permit is required for provincial plants to receive all emergency slaughter cattle, since they all have tissues capable of transmitting bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), known as specified risk material (SRM). This allows the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to track and maintain continuous control over SRM, to ensure that it does not enter livestock feed, pet food or fertilizer. To learn more about permit application forms (#5405) and the nearest CFIA district office.
Listeria
Listeria is the name given to a particular group of species of bacteria. Within this group, Listeria Monocytogenes is a bacterium that is found widely in the environment including in soil, vegetation, water, animal feed, and many other places. It is also found in the intestines of both animals and humans. The problem with Listeria Monocytogenes is that it is more resistant than most disease-causing food-borne bacteria to freezing, drying, high salt levels, nitrite and acid. It can also grow at low temperatures and with low oxygen levels such as those found on vacuum packaged meats. More information on controlling Listeria in your meat plant.
