Meat Inspection Regulation: Small-scale Abattoirs

WHEREAS the Government of BCs new Meat Inspection Regulation, under the Food Safety Act, results in the closure of most currently operating fixed and mobile abattoirs; AND WHEREAS a lack of processing facilities forces many small and specialty livestock producers out of production and results in a decline in small-scale, diversified agriculture in BC, including fruit and vegetable production on mixed farms; AND WHEREAS this loss of local meat production and sales will impose economic hardship on processors, producers and rural communities; AND WHEREAS the consumer demand for local, sustainably produced and processed meats is expanding and the Regulation impedes consumer choice: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the provincial government tailor the Meat Inspection Regulation to allow the local, small-scale abattoir operator or producer to operate under less stringent facility regulations, without the requirement for a meat inspector on site when slaughtering, and that any meat processed in such a manner will be allowed to be sold locally to the public labelled as not inspected to mitigate liability.