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Opportunities: Food safety
Actions in Progress
Review maple product labelling enforcement
Status: Action in progress
What we heard
Labelling laws for maple syrup products are inconsistently applied and enforced. It is difficult and costly for small producers to meet labelling requirements, while large conglomerates are not penalized for promoting maple syrup substitutes as maple products.
Our plan
Regulatory amendments took effect in January 2016 that prohibit the marketing of maple syrup substitutes as maple products.
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) actively engages with the maple sector to encourage compliance and acts on any suspected mislabelling of maple syrup substitutes. OMAFRA will continue its outreach efforts throughout 2017 to ensure maple producers understand their obligations under the revised regulation.
Improve communication around the Meat Regulation and inspections
Status: Action in progress
What we heard
There are several concerns regarding meat processing regulations, forms and inspection processes, such as:
- meat regulations are unclear due to a lack of consolidation and public access to the Meat Inspection Policy and Procedure Manual (MIPPM)
- the science and evidence behind Ontario’s Meat Regulation is not well understood by the industry
- Meat Regulation data collection forms duplicate the same information across different forms and applications
- meat inspections are perceived as “one size fits all” instead of being risk-based
Our plan
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has been using a risk-based approach to meat processing inspections and audits since 2010.
OMAFRA has an online tool available to help meat plant operators understand the requirements that may apply to their business, based on the activities they conduct.
To help businesses understand the regulatory requirements, OMAFRA will publish the Meat Plant Guidelines (MPGs) – which provide a plain-language description of the regulatory requirements to provincial meat plants – online by spring 2017.
OMAFRA will also use its quarterly newsletter, Behind the Legend, to continue explaining the science, risks and evidence behind meat processing regulations. The ministry will continue to work with the sector to identify and explore other methods of communicating information around meat processing regulations.
OMAFRA is currently reviewing the MIPPM, with input from the sector, to ensure it aligns with the Meat Regulation and MPGs. Once this work is complete, OMAFRA will explore options for sharing this information with the sector.
To ease the burden for businesses while maintaining food safety, OMAFRA will also conduct a line by line review of licensing forms to find streamlining opportunities and explore whether it is feasible to create a one-time licensing system.
Improve communication of pest control regulations
Status: Action in progress
What we heard
Pest control regulations in meat processing plants are mis-aligned with their intended outcomes. Businesses that capture pests in their facility may be subject to penalties. This creates conflicting incentives to avoid capturing pests.
Our plan
Pests such as insects and rodents are a critical food safety risk because they can contaminate food, food contact surfaces and the plant environment. The presence of a single rodent in a meat processing can indicate a broader infestation that must be eliminated.
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will continue to work with the meat processing sector in 2017 and beyond to help meat plant operators understand how pest issues can be prevented and the importance of pest control.
Streamline emergency slaughter procedures
Status: Action in progress
What we heard
Emergency slaughter procedures are too hard to follow and may lead to disposal of injured animals.
Our plan
Emergency slaughter allows a producer to have their injured animal slaughtered on farm and the carcass then transported to a licensed meat plant for processing. Food safety is maintained and the producer does not lose the value of that animal.
By the end of 2017, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will review emergency slaughter procedures and engage with industry partners to identify the current challenges. This may allow the ministry to streamline processes and deliver updated training to veterinary inspectors that will result in improved delivery of services to producers. The ministry will also work with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to explore opportunities around federal emergency slaughter permits.
Clarify rationale for animal health inspections
Status: Action in progress
What we heard
Animal health inspection practices under the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001 should be improved and rationale behind them more clearly communicated.
Our plan
In 2016, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) updated the Meat Plant Guidelines to better reflect the importance of animal welfare. The ministry’s veterinarians also met with provincial abattoirs to discuss animal welfare expectations.
In 2017, OMAFRA will work with the meat processing sector to enhance awareness, build partnerships, improve responses to animal health emergencies, and to enhance communications to increase operator knowledge of the requirements of pre-slaughter inspections. OMAFRA will also deliver enhanced training to veterinary inspectors.
Communicate benefits of the provincial meat licensing system
Status: Action in progress
What we heard
There is uncertainty for businesses over:
- why there are both provincial and federal licensing options for meat plants
- why some products produced in provincially licensed facilities are restricted
Our plan
In 2017, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) will look for opportunities to enhance communications on the provincial licensing framework.
Meat producers only need to be federally registered if they conduct business outside Ontario. OMAFRA has an online tool available to help meat plant operators understand the requirements that may apply to their business, based on the activities they conduct.
Improve communication of meat licensing requirements
Status: Action in progress
What we heard
Freestanding meat plants are unsure if they can sell their product directly to consumers.
Our plan
In 2017, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) will better communicate that freestanding meat plants are permitted to sell products retail and wholesale under the current Meat Regulation.
OMAFRA will also work with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to review inspection oversight of restaurants that retail and wholesale ready-to-eat meat.
Improve deadstock disposal compliance
Status: Action in progress
What we heard
Improperly disposing of animal carcasses or deadstock increases the risk of predators threatening the remaining livestock. It can also cause problems for neighbouring farms.
Our plan
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) provides online information on deadstock management.
In 2017, OMAFRA will provide more information on proper deadstock disposal methods as part of its communications efforts with the sector. To assist farmers affected by the tragic event of a barn fire, the ministry will also use the recently formed Barn Fire Risk Reduction Advisory Panel to help make farmers aware of how to manage deadstock losses due to fire.
Actions tracking
Support small food producers and processors
Status: Action tracking
What we heard
Small food processors identified several concerns that make it difficult for them to comply with regulations. Specific issues include:
- the lack of access to slaughtering houses for small-scale meat processors
- the need to have different rooms for the separate stages of meat processing, or to do them at different times
- the lack of access to grading stations for small-scale egg producers, which prevents them from selling their eggs to stores
- the difficulty of complying with “one size fits all” Food Safety and Quality Act requirements, which does not consider the limited resources of smaller producers
Our plan
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) made changes to Ontario’s Meat Regulation in 2014 to exempt some lower-risk activities from licensing.
OMAFRA regularly reviews meat inspection program and policies to make sure they protect the public interest, without being unnecessarily onerous for businesses.
The ministry meets regularly with industry partners to discuss regulatory requirements and compliance approaches, as well as hosting regular Open for Business forums which provide stakeholders with the opportunity to discuss a range of regulatory and service concerns and to engage with other ministries on specific issues.
OMAFRA will continue to assess any mobile slaughter applications it receives and will issue a licence if a business meets food safety and animal welfare requirements. The ministry will also review the requirements to determine if there are possible outcome-based approaches for mobile abattoirs in 2017.
OMAFRA will also work with the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care in 2017 to examine additional opportunities that could increase market access for smaller producers and processors in rural or remote areas.
Finally, OMAFRA will reach out to government partners to identify ways to more effectively collaborate on regulations outside the ministry’s jurisdiction (such as egg grading stations), and enhance our communications to better explain the reasons for exemptions under the Meat Regulation requirements.
Review farm gate slaughter requirements
Status: Action tracking
What we heard
Farmers are not allowed to raise, slaughter and process their own meat for sale on their own farm. Instead, farmers must pay for their animals to be slaughtered at licensed facilities, costing them time and money.
Our plan
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will increase communication to inform producers that they are able to slaughter their own animals for their own consumption and will explore opportunities to improve access to licensed meat processing facilities for farmers.
Food safety and animal welfare are priorities for our government. Ontario’s meat inspection system includes pre-slaughter inspection of the animal, post-slaughter inspection of the carcass, and inspection of the processing facility and processes. This oversight helps:
- reduce the risk of foodborne illnesses
- ensure meat processed for human consumption meets food safety standards
- screen for diseases that affect animals and people
- meet animal welfare requirements
Modernize the Milk Act
Status: Action tracking
What we heard
The Milk Act and its regulations are rigid and disconnected from operating realities in the dairy industry. Some concerns include:
- licensing and permitting are unnecessarily complicated and do not create added benefits for businesses or consumers
- the act only recognizes milk from cows and goats (excluding other animals such as buffalo, sheep and yaks)
- there are strict requirements for processors related to door height in the receiving room, and ceiling height in the processing area; there are other less prescriptive means of meeting food safety and quality requirements
Our plan
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) will continue to work with the agri-food sector and the Farm Products Marketing Commission to review and assess suggested changes to food safety and quality requirements and opportunities within the broader context of the Milk Act.
OMAFRA is committed to supporting the principles of supply management and regulated marketing in the province to help maintain a stable, quality supply of products for Ontario’s food processors and consumers.
Standardize food inspection practices
Status: Action tracking
What we heard
Restaurants have to post inspection results online while provincially licensed food manufacturers do not. This situation creates an uneven playing field for restaurants.
Our plan
In 2017, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) and the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care (MOHLTC) will further explore opportunities to align inspection practices.
In 2018, MOHLTC will consider the development of a public disclosure strategy, including on-site and online posting of inspection results. MOHLTC will work with OMAFRA to see if/how this can be applied to food processors.
Explain how trade agreements impact standards
Status: Action tracking
What we heard
Businesses are unclear about how food oversight and safety standards will be impacted by pending trade agreements (e.g., perceived impacts of aligning with European organic or genetically modified organism-free requirements). This makes it difficult for businesses planning to expand.
Our plan
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) will work with the Government of Canada to identify opportunities to raise awareness of the potential market opportunities arising from new and pending trade agreements.
OMAFRA will also continue to work to address Ontario’s market access issues and priorities with the federal government.
The Canadian government has developed online guidelines to help businesses understand trade agreements such as the Canada-European Union Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA). To further assist Canadian businesses, the federal government holds in-person training sessions on CETA and how the agreement can help businesses access trade and investment opportunities in the European Union.
OMAFRA's Ontario Food Exports program helps clients understand trade and investment opportunities in key markets.
Harmonize food labelling requirements
Status: Action tracking
What we heard
Provincial food labelling requirements are not aligned with federal requirements, which adds costs for businesses.
Our plan
In 2014, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) changed the provincial Meat Regulation to remove requirements that duplicated labelling requirements of the federal food and drug regulations and consumer packaging and labelling regulations. In 2017, the ministry will review the remaining areas of duplication for further alignment.
In June 2017, OMAFRA will engage the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and engage the sector to explore options for communicating labelling requirements. Later in fall 2017, the ministry will also enhance communications with the sector on provincial labelling requirements.
Update regulations for minimally processed products
Status: Action tracking
What we heard
Produce regulations are outdated and do not reflect current industry processes or consumer preferences for minimally processed products such as bagged salads, apple cider, sliced mushrooms, and home canned products. Ensuring that appropriate oversight is in place may help prevent the outbreak of foodborne diseases.
Our plan
The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs will continue to assess and develop outcome-based regulations to protect the food system while supporting a vibrant business environment. The ministry will review feedback and work with the sector to identify the specific gaps and risks between the existing regulations and current industry processes and consumer preferences.