Cooling and refrigeration
 83. (1) Subject to subsections (8) and (10), if a carcass or a part of a carcass at a slaughter plant receives approval under this Part for use as food, the operator of the plant shall ensure that, immediately after the approval is given, the carcass or the part of the carcass is cooled in accordance with subsections (2) to (3.1) and is kept refrigerated or frozen in accordance with subsection (4).  O. Reg. 31/05, s. 83 (1); O. Reg. 285/13, s. 36 (1). (2) The cooling shall be continuous.  O. Reg. 31/05, s. 83 (2). (3) The cooling shall be performed so that, (a) the surface temperature of a carcass or a part of a carcass of a mammal or a ratite reaches 7 degrees Celsius or less within 24 hours after the approval is given; and (b) the internal temperature of the warmest part of the carcass or the part of the carcass reaches 4 degrees Celsius or less as soon as possible after the time that the cooling described in clause (a) occurs.  O. Reg. 31/05, s. 83 (3). (3.1) If one or more carcasses or parts of carcasses are placed in a room for cooling purposes under subsection (1), the operator of the slaughter plant shall ensure that the temperature in the room, (a) does not rise to a temperature of more than 10 degrees Celsius as a result of the carcasses or parts of carcasses being placed in the room; and (b) returns to a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius or less as soon as possible after the carcasses or parts of carcasses are placed in the room. O. Reg. 285/13, s. 36 (2). (4) Once a carcass or a part of a carcass has been cooled at a slaughter plant in accordance with subsections (1), (2) and (3), the operator of the slaughter plant shall ensure that, at all times while it is at the slaughter plant, the carcass, part of the carcass or any meat product derived from the carcass or part of the carcass is kept, (a) refrigerated at an internal temperature of 4 degrees Celsius or less; or (b) frozen in a room that is maintained at a temperature of -18 degrees Celsius or less. O. Reg. 285/13, s. 36 (3). (5) Once a carcass or a part of a carcass is shipped from a slaughter plant to a freestanding meat plant in accordance with Part XIII, the operator of a freestanding meat plant who receives the carcass or part of the carcass shall ensure that, at all times while it is at the freestanding meat plant, the carcass, part of the carcass or any meat product derived from the carcass or part of the carcass is kept, (a) refrigerated at an internal temperature of 4 degrees Celsius or less; or (b) frozen in a room that is maintained at a temperature of -18 degrees Celsius or less. O. Reg. 285/13, s. 36 (3). (6) In order to satisfy the general obligation described in subsections (4) and (5), every operator of a meat plant shall ensure that, (a) before a carcass or a part of a carcass is cut at the plant, the internal temperature of the warmest part of the carcass is 4 degrees Celsius or less; and (b) any meat or meat by-products that are cut from a carcass or a part of a carcass are kept at a temperature of 4 degrees Celsius or less. O. Reg. 285/13, s. 36 (3). (7) Subsections (4), (5) and (6) do not apply to, (a) a meat product during processing if the processing involves cooking, thermal processing or any other processing procedure requiring the application of heat to the product; or (b) a shelf stable meat product. O. Reg. 285/13, s. 36 (3). (8) If the operator of a slaughter plant is unable to comply with subsection (1) (2) (3), (3.1), (4) or (6) because of an emergency, an inspector may direct in writing that any of those subsections do not apply to a carcass, a part of a carcass or a meat product at the plant for the time and on the conditions that the inspector specifies.  O. Reg. 31/05, s. 83 (8); O. Reg. 285/13, s. 36 (4). (9) If the operator of a freestanding meat plant is unable to comply with subsection (5) or (6) because of an emergency, an inspector may direct in writing that any of those subsections do not apply to a meat product at the plant for the time and on the conditions that the inspector specifies.  O. Reg. 31/05, s. 83 (9); O. Reg. 285/13, s. 36 (5). (10) The cooling and temperature requirements in subsections (1) to (4) and (6) do not apply to the operator of a slaughter plant in respect of a carcass, a part of a carcass or a meat product derived from a food animal that was slaughtered in accordance with this Part and with religious practice and ritual at the plant during an exemption period if, before the beginning of the exemption period, (a) the operator submits to an inspector a request for a religious observance exemption from the temperature and cooling requirements; and (b) the inspector who receives the request under clause (a) directs in writing that the religious observance exemption from cooling and temperature requirements shall be in effect for the exemption period specified in the direction. O. Reg. 205/19, s. 9. (11) A request for a religious observance exemption made under clause (10) (a) shall be in a form acceptable to the inspector and shall set out, (a) the period of time that the exemption is required; (b) an estimate of the number and species of food animals that will be slaughtered in accordance with the religious practice and ritual under the religious observance exemption; (c) an estimate of the amount of carcasses, parts of carcasses and meat products derived from food animals referred to in clause (b) that will be sold directly to consumers; and (d) an estimate of the amount of carcasses, parts of carcasses and meat products derived from food animals referred to in clause (b) that will be sold to persons other than consumers, if any. O. Reg. 205/19, s. 9. (12) An inspector who receives a request from an operator of a slaughter plant for a religious observance exemption from cooling and temperature requirements shall direct that the exemption be in effect for a specified exemption period only if he or she is satisfied that, (a) all of the carcasses, parts of carcasses and meat products derived from food animals slaughtered at the plant in accordance with religious practice and ritual to which the cooling and temperature requirements in subsections (1) to (4) and (6) will not apply under the exemption, will be sold by the operator directly to consumers; or (b) the carcasses, parts of carcasses and meat products derived from food animals slaughtered at the plant in accordance with religious practice and ritual to which the cooling and temperature requirements in subsections (1) to (4) and (6) will not apply under the exemption may be sold by the operator either directly to the consumer or to any other person, but the operator will ensure that, (i) the carcasses or parts of carcasses are treated with a microbial intervention that is sufficient to reduce or eliminate microbial loads that pose a risk to human health, except in the case of parts of carcasses that constitute inedible material or are condemned, (ii) a tag or label is firmly attached to the carcasses, parts of carcasses or meat products that are to be sold indicating to the purchaser that, (A) the carcass of the food animal may not have been cooled immediately after slaughter, and (B) care should be taken to ensure proper cooling temperatures and cooking temperatures are maintained prior to consumption, and (iii) any carcasses, parts of carcasses or meat products that are sold to persons other than consumers are shipped from the plant in transport containers that meet the requirements of subsection 134 (1). O. Reg. 205/19, s. 9. (13) If an inspector directs that a religious observance exemption from cooling and temperature requirements be in effect for an exemption period, the exemption shall, (a) be in effect for the exemption period specified in the direction; and (b) exempt the operator of the slaughter plant from subsection (1), (2), (3), (3.1), (4) or (6) or from any combination of those subsections, as specified in the direction, for every day during the exemption period, subject to subsection (14). O. Reg. 205/19, s. 9. (14) If, at the end of any working day during the exemption period, there remains at the plant any carcass, part of a carcass or meat product that has not complied with the cooling and temperature requirements of subsections (1) to (4) and (6), the operator shall ensure that, (a) the carcass, part of a carcass or meat product is cooled in accordance with subsections (2) to (3.1) and is kept refrigerated or frozen in accordance with subsection (4) starting at the end of working day; and (b) the requirements in clause (12) (b) continue to apply where applicable. O. Reg. 205/19, s. 9. (15) If a religious observance exemption is in effect for an exemption period at a slaughter plant, the operator shall prepare daily reports in a form acceptable to the inspector during the exemption period and submit them to the inspector. O. Reg. 205/19, s. 9. (16) A daily report required under subsection (15) shall set out, (a) the number and species of food animals slaughtered each day whose carcasses, parts of carcasses or meat products derived therefrom were subject to a religious observance exemption from cooling and temperature requirements; (b) whether the carcasses, parts of carcasses or meat products derived from the food animals have or will be sold directly to a consumer or to a person other than a consumer; and (c) where applicable, the microbial intervention that was used to comply with sub-clause (12) (b) (i). O. Reg. 205/19, s. 9. (17) If a carcass or a part of a carcass derived from a food animal that was slaughtered in accordance with religious practice and ritual and was subject to a religious observance exemption at a slaughter plant is shipped from the slaughter plant to a freestanding meat plant, the operator of the freestanding meat plant who receives the carcass or the part of the carcass shall follow the requirements of subsections (2) to (3.1) to ensure that the carcass or part of the carcass is cooled to the required temperatures before maintaining it at the proper temperature in accordance with subsection (5). O. Reg. 205/19, s. 9. (18) Nothing in subsection (17) shall prevent the operator of a freestanding meat plant from carrying out either of the following activities with respect to a carcass or part of a carcass referred to in subsection (17) that is received at the freestanding meat plant, if it is done on the day the food animal was slaughtered: 1. Selling the carcass or part of the carcass before it has been cooled to the required temperature. 2. Engaging in the processing of the carcass or part of the carcass before it has been cooled to the required temperature. O. Reg. 205/19, s. 9. Entry of Carcass into Meat Plant