Plants gag on new meat rules

Sat November 3, 2007 Vernon Courier

Harry Jones doesn‘t know if he will be able to keep his Similkameen Valley meat-processing plant in business much longer. Other small-scale abattoirs throughout the Southern Interior must also consider closing or spending large amounts of money to upgrade in order to meet new meat-processing regulations introduced last month by the provincial government. Jones, who owns Iceberg Meats and Slaughterhouse near Hedley, said Friday his operation is much too small to handle the additional costs. “To upgrade, for me, I just couldn‘t do it,” he said. “It would be in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. I can‘t afford to do it.” Jones said he has met with Canadian Food Inspection Agency officials, who suggested he change his plant to handle strictly poultry. However, he said he‘s still considering his options – including shutting down entirely as he nears retirement at age 64.

The new regulations allow farmers to process their own livestock for their own use, but Jones wondered how that could be considered an improvement from a health point of view. Iceberg Meats continues to operate on a limited basis as Jones completes a few remaining orders. Bob Johnston, owner of Johnston Meats in Oliver, said he is considering whether to build an expanded plant at the Southern-Plus Feedlot in Oliver. However, he notes it would cost about $450,000 for the basic building alone. The regulations call for meat inspectors to be on site during slaughtering of livestock in most cases. Each facility would have to be upgraded to meet new standards and also have a separate office and shower for the inspector. “We‘ve been saying all along that they didn‘t have to go this far,” Johnston said. “If you need inspection, have the fellow come in and look at the animals before they‘re slaughtered.” The inspectors, he suggested, could come back afterward and look over any carcasses and organs deemed necessary for further inspection. Johnston Meats currently processes about 15 cattle a week.
The Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen board voted unanimously to write provincial Agriculture Minister Pat Bell and his federal counterpart, Gerry Ritz, calling for assistance in resolving the problem for rural family farms.

Joe Nitsch, RDOS director for the Keremeos-rural Hedley area, fears many farmers could be put out of business if the regulations cause local meat-processing plants to close. “There have never been any problems with contamination from these (small) operations. Yet, we make them have corporate standards,” he said. Nitsch said the farmers also face higher transportation costs getting their livestock to processors farther away. The issue also came up in the provincial legislature this week. Petitions were presented by five New Democrat MLAs and one Liberal MLA, calling for the government to rescind the new legislation. On Friday, the New Democrats presented more than 3,000 signatures opposed to the new meat regulation, primarily from Liberal constituencies. “Producers and processors across B.C. are fighting for the right to sell local meat legally at the farm gate,” said Charlie Wyse, MLA for Cariboo South. “It‘s obvious this regulation was implemented with complete disregard for the way rural farmers have been operating for centuries.” Penticton-Okanagan Valley Liberal MLA Bill Barisoff said the new regulations were first proposed in 2004 and introduced on Oct. 1 after considerable review. One change allows producers to sell meat at the farm gate provided the meat isn‘t for resale to a restaurant or retail outlet. The government program also matches a processor‘s upgrading costs dollar for dollar up to a maximum of $50,000. Barisoff said the new regulations are aimed at having all abattoirs fall under the same inspection and health regulations. He noted provincial agriculture ministries across Canada have been considering similar legislation in response to the BSE outbreaks and avian flu scares. Barisoff acknowledged it‘s tough finding an acceptable middle ground for everyone involved. “You have to make sure you mitigate it, but not to the point that ultimately destroys everybody in the process,” he said.