March 2013 - Canadian Meat Council

Canadian Meat Council
March 2013
Bulletin
CBC Power in Politics
Inside this issue:
Membership
Report
2
Annual
Conference
2
Technical
Update
3
Government
and Media
Relations
4
International
Trade
5
Regulatory
Affairs
6
Pork
Committee
7
Staff Contact
Information
7
Executive Director Jim Laws appeared on CBC TV’s Power and Politics on Thursday
January 10, 2013. He debated with Mr. Tony Corbo from Food and Water Watch on the
issue of the Beyond the Border meat inspection pilot project. Food and Water Watch is a
very well-funded lobby group with almost 70 full time employees that is opposed to any
changes to the current US border inspection system.
Jim Laws argued that the pilot project merely moves meat inspection from the Canada-US
border to a USDA inspected meat facility inland—thus alleviating congestion at the border
and not compromising food safety in any way.
You can view the video clip “US confidence in Canadian Meat” at http://www.cbc.ca/player/
News/TV+Shows/Power+%26+Politics+with+Evan+Solomon/ID/2325555950/.
CBC Lang & O’Leary Exchange
Executive Director Jim Laws appeared on CBC TV’s Lang and O’Leary Exchange on Friday
February 15, 2013. He explained the many reasons why beef burgers here in Canada
would never contain undeclared horsemeat as has recently happened in Europe.
In Canada, it is illegal to sell food in a manner that is misleading or deceptive. Canadian
Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) inspectors are present in all federally registered slaughter
and processing establishments to verify that meat products are produced in accordance
with the Canadian law. In addition to visual inspection, the CFIA tests domestic and
imported products to verify that meat products are indeed the stated species.
Following reports from Europe of horsemeat found in hamburger patties and frozen
lasagna, University of Guelph researchers at the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario (BIO) used
advanced DNA testing to examine 15 sources of Canadian hamburger meat in late January
of 2013.
Six of the sources tested were cooked and nine frozen. The six cooked hamburgers tested
for DNA from horsemeat and other sources include A&W Mama Burger, Burger King’s
Whopper, Dairy Queen’s FlameThrower, Harvey’s Original, McDonald’s Big Mac, and
Wendy’s Bacon Double Cheeseburger. All were 100 percent beef.
Page 2
The uncooked, frozen hamburger patties tested include Beef Steakettes (Schneiders), Lick’s Homeburgers, M&M Meat
Shops Supreme Homestyle Beef Burgers, No Name Beef Burgers (Loblaws), Outlaw Beef Burgers (Schneiders),
President’s Choice Thick and Juicy Beef Burgers, and Webers Beef Burgers. Fresh lean ground beef in a tube (Better
Beef -- Cargill) and Food Basics fresh lean ground beef were also tested.
There are only four federally registered establishments that perform horse slaughter in Canada—two in Quebec and two in
Alberta. Over 85% of Canada’s horse meat is exported. There are an estimated 500 people employed across Canada in
Canada’s horse meat processing sector.
Canada exported 17.7 million kilograms of horsemeat valued at almost $90 million in 2012 to 15 different countries. The
major markets were Switzerland, Japan, France, Belgium and Kazakhstan. The average value of exported horsemeat
sales was $5.08 per kilogram. The average value of exported beef last year was $4.46 per kilogram and the average value
of pork was $2.69. Last year Canada shipped approximately 1.2 billion kilograms of pork and 271 million kilograms of beef.
You can view the video clip at the 34 minute mark at: http://www.cbc.ca/player/News/Business/Lang+%26+O%
27Leary+Exchange/ID/2335857526/.
Membership Report
New Members:
Regular Members:

JBS Canada Inc. - A meat processing and slaughter facility based in Calgary, Alberta.
Associate Members:

Americana Meat Purveyors - A trading company based in St. Hubert, Quebec.

Dasa International LLC - A trading company based in Atlanta, Georgia.

G.E. Leblanc Inc. - A company that provides equipment to the meat industry based
in St-Anselme, Quebec.
Retail/Food Service Members:
Canadian Meat Council’s 93rd Annual Conference
The Canadian Meat Council will be holding its 93rd Annual Conference on May 29 - 31,
2013 at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel in Banff, Alberta.
Hotel Information: A block of rooms are available at the Fairmont Banff Springs Hotel for
a reduced conference rate, from $309 per night. To reserve a room, contact the Fairmont at
1-800-441-1414 and refer to the Canadian Meat Council to receive the conference rate.
You may also book online: http://www.fairmont.com/reservations/check-availability/?
hc=BSH&pc=GBIF.
Sponsorship Forms are available on our website www.cmc-cvc.com. More information and registration forms will be
available shortly.
Page 3
Technical Update
E. coli
In February 2013, the Canadian Meat Council E. coli working group has revised the policy on control of E. coli O157:H7
(MOP Ch. 4, Annex O) that the CFIA has provided for industry comments. The CFIA expressed the intention of publishing
a final version by early March and implementation by April 1, 2013. Likewise, the working group is reviewing the Health
Canada’s Guidance Document on E. coli that should be published by April 2013.
Meat Cuts Manual - Harmonization of Meat Nomenclature US-CANADA
The Canadian Meat Council proposed to CFIA the names of participants for the different sub-committees (beef, pork, lamb,
veal and byproducts) to oversee the required changes (Canadian input), the maintenance and updating of the Institutional
Meat Purchasing Specifications (IMPS) and the NAMA Meat Buyer’s Guide.
In some committees the review process has already begun. The committees will be meeting via a series of conference
calls until consensus is reached on the changes for both the IMPS and the Meat Buyer’s Guide. The committee members
will focus on additions that should be made to the book (either new items or variations of existing items), any items which
are obsolete and not commonly traded that could be removed and a review of the introductory material for changes, and
the glossary for terms that need to be changed or added.
List of priority interventions
Status
Date Posted
Intervention to be approved
February 2013
1
Nov 2010
Lauric Arginate (LAE)
Under review
2
Nov 2010
Nisin
With petitioner
3
Nov 2010
Bovibrom
Approved
4
May 2012
Bovibrom used in water applied to organs
With petitioner
5
Nov 2011
Avibrom
Approved
6
May 2012
Other use of Avibrom - poultry via bird washer
Final stages
7
May 2012
Other use of Avibrom - water supply to ice machines
Final stages
8
Aug 2011
Citrolow (citric acid and hydrocholoric acid)
With petitioner
9
Nov 2010
Sodium and potassium lactates added to uncooked meats to suppress the growth of pathogens
Approved
10
Aug 2011
Sodium diacetate for fresh meats
Approved
11
May 2012
Benzoic acid and its salts (sodium and potassium) and/or propionic acid and its salts (sodium and calcium)
No submission
12
Aug 2012
Beefxide use on primal, cut, trim, offal without a potable water rinse
With petitioner
13
Feb 2013
Finalyse - phage product
Under review
14
Nov 2010
Irradiation of beef carcasses (low level e-beam as a processing aid)
No submission
15
Nov 2010
Irradiation of ground beef
No submission
16
Aug 2011
Industry seeking identification of HPP as a post lethality kill step, to allow treated products to be considered category 2A for Lm
Under review
17
Aug 2011
HPP, Process modification approvals requested
Under review
18
Aug 2011
Exeption from rapid cooling requirements requested
Under review
19
Aug 2011
Allowance for use of KCI as a NaCI replacement
Under review
20
Nov 2010
A clean mechanism to move processors that meet the Listeria monocytogenes alternative 2 requirements to alternative 2 status
Guidance document published
21
Nov 2010
Accelerate the approval timelines of using rapid science based products or methods for microbial diagnostics
Under review
22
Aug 2011
Consideration for approval of food additives/preservatives must go through and extensive and very lengthy scientific evaluation
New food Legislative Authoritie
April 19, 2013
CANADIAN MEAT COUNCIL
TECHNICAL MEETINGS CALENDAR 2013
Regional meeting, CFIA-CMC, Quebec
April 26, 2013
Regional meeting, CFIA-CMC, Ontario
May 29, 2013
Technical Committee
October 2, 2013
Technical Committee
October 3-4, 2013
Technical Symposium
Montreal
Mississauga
The Fairmont Banff Springs
Banff, Alberta
Sheraton Toronto Airport
Room Zermatt, Toronto
Sheraton Toronto Airport
Room Alpine, Toronto
Page 4
Government and Media Relations
Canadian Meat Council Website:
In addition to its traditional role of acting as an information exchange resource for Canadian Meat Council members, the
new website was designed to facilitate and encourage enhanced outreach and communication with politicians, government
officials, academia, educators, the media and consumers on issues of priority interest to them: food safety; nutrition and
health; animal health and welfare; and, international trade. Cumulatively and progressively during the coming months, the
four theme boxes will be populated with policy and technical documents that address various aspects of these high profile
subjects.
Parliament Hill Day:
Members of the Board of Directors are scheduled to engage in a series of meetings with leading Parliamentarians and
senior government officials on Wednesday, March 6. This will be the first such event for the CMC since 2005. During the
months that follow, attention will focus on coordinating meetings with Members of Parliament who represent constituencies
in which CMC member companies provide employment opportunities.
It is anticipated that the discussions on March 6 will include food safety, health and nutrition and international trade.
Although subject as always to last-minute modifications, the program includes confirmed meetings with the following:
Conservative Party of Canada:




Colin Carrie, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health
Gerald Keddy, M.P., Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade
Merv Tweed, M.P., Chair, Agriculture and Agri-Food Committee
Honourable Rob Merrifield, M.P., Chair, International Trade Committee
New Democratic Party of Canada:





Honourable Thomas Mulcair, Leader of the Official Opposition
George Smith, Media and Executive Assistant to the Leader of the Official Opposition
Malcolm Allen, M.P., Agriculture and Agri-Food Critic
Don Davies, M.P., International Trade Critic
Tim Ehlich, Executive Assistant to Olivia Chow, M.P., Transportation Critic
Liberal Party of Canada:





Honourable Bob Rae, Leader of the Liberal Party
Frank Valeriote, Agriculture and Agri-Food Critic
Dr. Hedy Fry, M.P., Health Critic
Wayne Easter, M.P., International Trade Critic
Senator Percy Downe, Deputy Chair, Senate Foreign Affairs and International Trade Committee
Industry Canada:

Philip Jennings, Acting Assistant Deputy Minister, Industry Sector
Press Releases:
January 11: Canada’s Meat Processing Industry Welcomes Additions to List of Establishments Eligible to Export
Beef to China
Page 5
January 28: Canada’s Meat Processing Industry Strongly Welcomes Announcement of Expanded Access for
Canadian Beef in the Important Japanese Market
February 13: Canadian Meat Council Launches New Website as Component of Commitment to Expand Public
Outreach
Live Radio Interviews:
February 13: CKNW Vancouver, concerning horse meat production, consumption, trade and label integrity in Canada and
Europe
Sector Information Submissions for Media Features:
January 23: Responses to written questions for a “Food In Canada” Annual Meat and Poultry Report
February 7: Meat packing and processing industry expectations of live animal and processed meat transportation providers
for the “Canadian Transportation and Logistics” Magazine
International Trade
Negotiations for the Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP) and Canada-Japan Economic Partnership Agreement are evolving as
planned. The next round of TPP negotiations will be held in Singapore from March 4-13.
Canadian negotiators will be hosting their Japanese counterparts in Ottawa on the week of April 22 for the next round of
the Canada-Japan EPA negotiations. In the meantime, on January 28th, 2013 Canada and Japan reached agreement on
conditions for under thirty months (UTM) access for beef—a significant achievement. Some key amendments to Japan's
import requirements for Canada include:




Age requirements: Canadian beef from UTM animals is now eligible for export; an improvement over the current
requirement which only permits beef exports from animals under 21 months of age.
Approval of new establishments: The previous requirement for mandatory external audits has been removed.
Ineligible tissues: Japanese SRM requirements are now consistent with OIE standards.
Age determination: Dentition is now accepted by Japan as an acceptable means to verify the age of cattle.
Detailed information regarding export conditions has been distributed to plant operators by the Canadian Food Inspection
Agency.
A trade deal with Europe still remains elusive. Negotiations have intensified with weekly meetings since the beginning of
2013, consultations and ministerial meetings taking place, in efforts to advance negotiations to ensure Canada has market
access on products, with few exceptions. Progress has been made on tariffs. Outstanding areas include beef market
access issues, rules of origin, geographic indicators and SPS issues.
Although the government is committed to finalize a deal, negotiations with South Korea are at a standstill. The new
President, Park Geun-Lye, has undertaken to restructure the government’s operations, moving trade negotiations to the
industry department. This initiative has impacted the progress of talks to date.
Finally, a protocol is under development to curb the impact of Russia’s ractopamine ban on Canadian imports of pork.
Page 6
Regulatory Affairs
(a) The regulatory affairs calendar has been a busy one since the beginning of the year. The Canadian Meat Council has
responded to the:




CFIA user fee proposal for overtime;
FSIS “test and hold” policy;
FSIS proposed rule on Public Health Information System (PHIS) and changes to import inspection regulations;
Finance Canada proposed changes to the General Preferential Tariff (GPT) system.
Follow-up work on the proposed changes to the phytosanitary certificate requirements for the imports of grain from the
United States is also underway to ensure that members are plugged in CFIA research initiatives and consultative process.
(b) The regulatory calendar promises to continue to be a busy one from now until the spring. On the Canadian front, we
can expect the following:
Regulatory Modernization:

The regulatory framework supporting the Safe Foods for Canadians Act is expected to be released for public
consultation in the spring. It will be followed by a six month consultation process with stakeholders. Final draft
regulations should be published in Canada Gazette Part 1 in the spring of 2014. The regulations are expected to come
into force in December 2014 at which time the Act will be proclaimed.
Inspection Modernization:


The revised and final draft of the improved inspection modernization model is scheduled to be posted on CFIA’s
website by the end of March. There will be a 60 day comment period. Final documents are to be posted on line in the
spring/summer of 2013. The implementation of the improved food inspection model is to begin in the Fall of 2013.
The Inspection Modernization process will be aligned to the Regulatory Modernization process. The two processes will
now be collapsed into one.
Labelling:


The CFIA will launch a food labelling modernization initiative in April/May 2013. The initiative is designed to address all
issues for which the CFIA, and only the CFIA, has responsibility. (Any Health Canada issues will be relayed to the
Health Canada representative sitting on the Steering Committee). It is expected to address, among others,
partnerships/roles and responsibilities, service delivery and harmonization issues across all food commodities. The
initiative’s consultation process should be aligned with the process governing consultations on the regulatory framework of the Safe Foods for Canadians Act.
In the meantime, the guidelines on the label claim issues (method of production) should be released by late March/
early April. The CFIA will brief industry on the new guidelines before they are released.
Meat Inspection Regulations

The publication of the regulations in Part II of the Canada Gazette is now scheduled to take place at the end of
March.
Page 7
Pork Committee
Ractopamine in Russia
In January 2013, the Canadian Meat Council and Canada Pork International prepared a protocol to export meat derived of
pigs that have not been fed with ractopamine to Russia. The draft protocol has been shared with the industry and the CFIA.
The comments from the industry and government will be incorporated to the proposed protocol. The main issue noticed by
the CFIA in the protocol was the preparation of feeds that do not contain ractopamine in the feed mills where they previously have mixed feed containing the additive. Discussions on this topic will be entertained in early March.
Pork Code of Practice
The Code process has been followed and we are now looking to prepare the Code for public comment. Agreement on final
wording for a few outstanding topics and the need to conduct an additional in-person meeting has delayed the process. It is
a tremendous challenge to reach a balance that is good for the animals, achievable by producers and sustainable for the
future, in a way that also addresses market needs and expectations.
The National Farm Animal Care Council itself has limited flexibility to adjust timelines for the Pig Code under its current
project funding. It is anticipated that the Code Development Committee will be able to meet a June 1, 2013 target for the
start of the Pig Code’s public comment period. This is a pivotal date for ensuring that the Pig Code is finished before the
end of 2013.
Staff Contact Information
Canadian Meat Council
1545 Carling Ave.
Suite 407
Ottawa, Ontario
K1Z 8P9
Phone: 613-729-3911
Fax: 613-729-4997
E-mail: info@cmc-cvc.com
Website: www.cmc-cvc.com
Jim Laws
Jorge Andrés Correa
Aksana Korziuk
Sylvie Dobinson
Executive Director
Technical Director
Administrative Assistant
Director, Finance and Administration
(613) 729-3911 x 24
(613) 729-3911 ext. 23
(613) 729-3911 x 27
(613) 729-3911 x 22
jiml@cmc-cvc.com
jorge@cmc-cvc.com
aksana@cmc-cvc.com
sylvied@cmc-cvc.com
Suzanne Sabourin
Brittany Ypma
Ron Davidson
Director, Regulatory and
International Trade
Manager of Member
Services
Government and Media
Relations Director
(613) 729-3911 x 25
(613) 729-3911 x 31
(613) 729-3911 x 26
suzanne@cmc-cvc.com
brittany@cmc-cvc.com
ron@cmc-cvc.com
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