. /.WORLD TRADE
ORGANIZATIONG/SPS/N/CAN/186
4 September 2003
(03-4624)
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures Original:  English
NOTIFICATION
1. Member to Agreement notifying:   CANADA
If applicable, name of local government involved:
2. Agency responsible:   Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
3. Products covered (provide tariff item number(s) as specified in national schedules
deposited with the WTO; ICS numbers should be provided in addition, where
applicable):  Meat and poultry products (ICS: 67.120, 65.040)
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected, to the extent relevant or practicable:  All
countries exporting or intending to export meat products to Canada
5. Title, language and number of pages of the notified document:  Proposed Amendment to
the Meat Inspection Regulations, 1990 (available in English and French;  pages 2674-2697)
6. Description of content:  The Meat Inspection Act enables the Government of Canada to
regulate the safety and quality of meat products imported into Canada or produced in
federally registered establishments for export or  interprovincial trade.  Pursuant to this Act,
the Meat Inspection Regulations, 1990 (MIR) establish standards for meat products;
specify requirements for licensing, registration, maintenance and operation of federally
registered meat establishments; establish packaging and labelling requirements; andestablish criteria for import and export of meat products.
The amendments in this regulatory package are divided into two groups:  amendments
necessary to effect the mandatory implem entation of the Food Safety Enhancement
Program (FSEP);  and amendments to address other minor issues in the MIR not related tomandatory implementation of FSEP.  FSEP is the CFIA's program designed for the
establishment and maintenance of Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP)
systems in all federally registered meat and poultry registered establishments.
Several provisions have transition periods which are applicable equally to domestic and
foreign producers.
Mandatory FSEP Amendments
The implementation of mandatory FSEP in all federally registered meat and poultry
establishments (including registered storages) will enhance the safety level of meat
products prepared in registered establishments.  Foreign processors producing meatproducts that will be imported into Canada will also be required to meet equivalent Hazard
Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) requirements.G/SPS/N/CAN/186
Page 2
Non-mandatory FSEP Amendments
There are a number of amendments to the MIR that are required to ensure that these
Regulations are accurate and current.  The amendments include:
• Labelling of non-ready-to-eat meat products
• Clarify certain of the definitions in Schedule IV of the Regulations
• Re-define criteria for partially-dressed carcasses
• Delivery of returned meat products to a registered establishment
• Requirements for food animals that die while en route to establishments
• Modify the definitions of “food animal” and “bird”
• Repeal of definition of “farmed game animal” definition and new exemption for
game animals
• Modification of the definition of “adulterated”
• Provide for submission of elec tronic versions of documents
• English version of the definition of “official tag”
• Modify the provisions governing imports
7. Objective and rationale:  [  X ] food safety, [   ] animal health, [   ] plant protection,
[   ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or  disease, [   ] protect territory from other
damage from pests
8. International standard, gu ideline or recommendation:
[ X ] Codex Alimentarius Commission, [   ] Office International des Epizooties,
[   ] International Plant Prot ection Convention, [   ] None
If an international standard , guideline or recommendation exists, give the appropriate
reference and briefly identify deviations:  Approach is consistent with "Hazard Analysis
and Critical Control Point (HACCP) System and Guidelines for its Application", in
CAC/RCP 1:  "General Prin ciples of Food Hygiene".
9. Relevant documents and language(s) in which these are available:  Canada Gazette,
Part I, 23 August 2003 (available in English and French)
10. Proposed date of adoption:   Normally within 4 to 6 months of publication in the Canada
Gazette, Part I.
11. Proposed date of entry into force:   On the date the measure is adopted, except for
Subparagraphs 29(2)(b)(ii) and (iii), paragraphs 29(4)(b) and (c) and section 30.1 of theMeat Inspection Regulations, 1990, as enacted by sections 9 and 10 of these Regulations,
which come into force, for both foreign and domestic producers, 12 months after the day
on which these Regulations are adopted.
12. Final date for comments:  6 November 2003
Agency or authority designated to handle comments:  [   ] National notification
authority, [ X ] National enquiry point, or address, fax number and E-mail address (if
available) of other body:
13. Texts available from:  [   ] National notification authority, [ X ] National enquiry point,
or address, fax number and E-mail address (if available) of other body:
The electronic version of the regulatory text can be downloaded at:
http://canadagazette.gc.ca/partI/2003/20030823/pdf/g1-13734.pdf