Meat inspection changes a health risk, union says
The union for federal meat inspectors states more Canadians risk being exposed to contaminated products when Ottawa stops inspecting provincial meat-packing plants in three provinces by 2014.
The Public Service Alliance of Canada states the move by Canadian Food Inspection Agency to end its contract to inspect provincially regulated facilities in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and B.C. will expose consumers to a higher risk of contaminated meat products.
“To save a few bucks, the federal government is creating a two-tiered food safety system in which some Canadians enjoy higher standards while others suffer higher risk,” stated Agriculture Union regional vice-president Sam Barlin.
But at least one university academic disagrees, saying not much will change when responsibility for inspecting 90 provincially regulated packing plants falls to the provincial governments of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and British Columbia by 2014.
The CFIA will continue to inspect federally regulated plants.
Canadians risk being exposed to contaminated meat when Ottawa stops inspections, the PSAC union says. (CBC)
“The rulebook is not going to change, only the people,” stated University of Manitoba food microbiologist Rick Holley.
The union argues it will take the provinces two to three years to properly train provincial staff and it claims provincial inspection standards are not as stringent.
At present, the federal government loses money by contracting to inspect provincial meat-packing facilities for those provinces, PSAC said. The union insists the move to end the inspection contract in Manitoba, Saskatchewan and B.C. is putting cost-cutting ahead of public safety.
Ontario, Quebec and Alberta have their own provincial inspectors in place while Atlantic Canada does not.
PSAC is starting an on-line petition calling on federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz to change his mind. But Ritz seemed unwilling to back down on Wednesday.
“Food safety is CFIA’s top priority and the inspection regime in federally registered plants will not change,” the minister said. “As concurred to by the provinces and our government, CFIA will no longer be delivering meat inspection services that fall under provincial jurisdiction.
“We are working with these provinces to ensure a smooth transition of inspection services over the next three years while maintaining the highest food safety standards.”
Manitoba Agriculture Minister Stan Struthers stated he has no idea when that province might hire its own inspectors, nor how many there will be. He stated the province only recently heard that Ottawa intended to end the provincial inspections. “I want to state very clearly that Manitoba’s government will do its part to make sure our food is safe.”
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source : www.cbc.ca
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Submited at Thursday, August 11th, 2011 at 9:00 am on Health by nuterman
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