Canadian Food Inspection Agency suggests already-dead animals to be processed

This article was last updated on April 16, 2022

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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is proposing some modifications to use already-dead animals to be processed at slaughterhouses.

The agency says this rule would have its limitations since only the animals who could not be safely or gently moved alive are allowed to be processed, while animals that are found dead, for example on the roadsides, are strictly forbidden.

“Their intent is to allow for the on farm slaughter of animals which are safe for human consumption but for which a variety of reasons may not be fit for transport,” said Tim O’Connor, spokesperson for the agency. “That may be because it’s an overly aggressive animal. It may be an animal which has a broken leg.”

Apparently, the Harper government is considering rewriting the Meat Inspection Regulations to make the rules easier for slaughterhouses. However, O’Connor insists that animals to be slaughtered on the farm shall first be examined by a veterinarian.

“There’s a pre-slaughter examination at the farm and then the carcass has to be shipped according to regulatory requirements… to a federally registered establishment where it is further inspected post-mortem by a veterinarian to ensure again it is suitable for human consumption,” he said. “This does not include dead stock. That’s unequivocal.”

The proposal is supported by the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association. The association believes relaxation of rules would also spare injured animals from their pain.

“I think it’s a win-win scenario all around. It’s good for the animal, it’s good for the farmers and I would say it has zero impact on the safety of the food, zero impact on consumers,” said John Masswohl, the association’s director of government and international relations.