Saskatchewan Agriculture Minister Lyle Stewart awarded the contract for meat inspection services in provincially inspected meat processing plants to the Saskatchewan Food Industry Development Centre Inc. (Food Centre) in Saskatoon.
"Our government remains committed to maintaining high food safety standards," Stewart said. "Under the supervision of the provincial government, I am confident that the Food Centre will deliver rigorous meat inspection services to ensure high-quality and safe Saskatchewan meat products."
Currently, the Ministry contracts the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to deliver meat inspection services. The Government of Canada has indicated that on January 1, 2014, CFIA will no longer provide these services. The Food Centre has been awarded the new contract because they have the necessary resources and capacity to effectively administer the program in the province.
The Food Centre will provide meat inspection services to Saskatchewan's 12 provincially inspected meat processing facilities starting on January 1, 2014. The Food Centre will formally report to the Ministry of Agriculture on a regular basis. This does not impact the health-licensed meat facilities in the province.
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