Beef industry encouraged by proposed regulatory changes

The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) and Canadian Meat Council (CMC) say proposed federal regulatory amendments include long-sought updates to Canada...

The Canadian Cattle Association (CCA) and Canadian Meat Council (CMC) say proposed federal regulatory amendments include long-sought updates to Canada’s specified risk material requirements. The groups say the changes would save the beef industry millions of dollars annually and improve competitiveness with the United States. Since Canada obtained negligible risk status for bovine spongiform encephalopathy in 2021, the CCA and CMC have worked with Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada officials to review Canada’s Specified Risk Material (SRM).

The proposed regulations are the next step and include a 60-day consultation period with stakeholders. CMC is the national voice of Canada’s federally licensed red meat industry, representing packers, processors and suppliers across the beef, pork, veal, lamb and bison sectors. CMC President and CEO Kyle Larkin said the publication of these draft regulations is an important milestone for Canada’s red meat processing sector.

“For years, processors have operated under SRM requirements that no longer reflect Canada’s negligible BSE risk status and place the industry at a competitive disadvantage compared with the United States,” Larkin said. “These proposed changes represent a science-based approach that maintains Canada’s strong food safety system while reducing unnecessary costs for processors.” Andrea Brocklebank, co-chair of the industry working group and CCA chief executive officer, said the draft regulations are a positive sign of removing BSE-era requirements and a meaningful step toward removing unnecessary burden without risking food safety.

“Together with industry partners and government officials, we have worked tirelessly to see the Canada Gazette process start as soon as possible. This is good news for our industry and our competitiveness, and CCA looks forward to engaging in the consultation process with our members and stakeholders,” Brocklebank said. Canada’s SRM requirements impose significant costs on the beef processing sector.

Removal and disposal costs are estimated at $62 to $320 per metric tonne, with an average of about $167 per metric tonne which cost the Canadian meat industry an estimated $31.7 million annually. The costs stem from Canada’s more extensive SRM requirements, which remain in place even though Canada and the United States both hold negligible BSE risk status. Canada requires the removal and disposal of about 57 kilograms of SRM per carcass, compared with three kilograms in the United States.

The proposed amendments would better align Canada’s requirements with current science and U.S. rules, reducing processing costs while maintaining food safety standards. CCA and CMC will consult with members and stakeholders and will be submitting comments during the Canada Gazette period. – alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com