EMO—Bill Limerick and Pete Sarsfield, with the Northwestern Health Unit in Kenora, declared Saturday that they are willing to work with local farmers to petition the provincial government for an exemption from the regulations impeding them from processing uninspected meat.
“We can’t promise anything,” Limerick told those in attendance at the 16th-annual general meeting of the Rainy River District Municipal Association in Emo.
“But we’re known as good disturbers and we’ll do are darnedest to get an interim solution,” he vowed.
Limerick reiterated the circumstances that took place last November when two district businesses had their meat seized by the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs.
Due to a change in regulations in September, 2004, uninspected meat was not allowed to be on the premise. In fact, once an animal is slaughtered, it is not to be transported unless it’s inspected.
“We just said it could not be on the premise,” he stressed. “We didn’t say it had to be destroyed or seized—that was OMAFRA.”
But Limerick claims the district did have an exemption of the regulation until October 1, 2006. They received a complaint concerning the possible sale and distribution of uninspected meat on Oct. 23.
“We’re prepared to work with you,” he added. “But it has to be something reasonable, something that works.”
And in fact, Limerick noted he had met with the “Local Food for Local People” committee that morning.
The committee’s primary goal is to find an interim solution for the uninspected meat processing.
“I think they are supportive because they understand the issue,” committee chair Amos Brielmann said Monday. “The concern is if people are denied access to a decent facility, then we have a potential health risk.”
He noted Limerick and Sarsfield suggested the committee find a way to make sure the government is certain people will not be able to sell this meat.
“We thought why don’t we ask the processor to identify that meat when he is wrapping it with a ‘not for sale’ sticker or stamping it,” he proposed.
A time limit also would need to be determined and Limerick thought a shorter term of six months, with the possibility of extension, would be more workable than asking for a two-year exemption.
“We could revisit it after six months and if it’s working and an abattoir is not yet in place, we could extend it,” he explained.
Earlier during the annual meeting, the RRDMA had passed a resolution to petition the province to suspend the regulation in Rainy River District “for a period of two years to permit sufficient time for completion of construction of a proper facility in the district at which mandated inspection services can be provided.”
But after Limerick and Sarsfield spoke, a motion was made to rescind that resolution and write a second one which would reflect the support of the Northwestern Health Unit.
The updated version—written during a coffee break—stated the RRDMA “petitions the province to permit a food premise where meat is processed to have uninspected meat on the premise for the purpose of custom-cutting, wrapping, and freezing for it’s owners if:
•the uninspected meat is stored so that it does not come into contact with inspected meat;
•each quarter or larger section of the carcass bears a tag showing the name and address of the owner of the uninspected meat; and
•each quarter or larger section of the carcass is legibly stamped “consumer owned, not for sale” on each of the primal cut areas using ink from non-toxic edible ingredients and in letters at least 1.25 cm in height.”
The resolution also indicated the exemption period be for six months, with the possibility of extension, and that uninspected meat be allowed to be transported for the above purpose only.
No one objected to the new resolution being passed.
With the Northwestern Health Unit and district municipalities behind them, the LFLP committee now is drafting a letter to be sent to the provincial government requesting this proposal be granted.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
