Ottawa is scrambling to increase the number of inspectors in Canada's domestic meat plants, after having ratcheted up the supervision in the big plants that sell a part of their products to the United States.
In an appearance before a parliamentary committee yesterday, Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz and senior officials said recently hired inspectors were first put to work in the country's biggest meat plants, which are the main exporters of meat to the United States.
The move came in part at the request of U.S. authorities, who insist that inspectors maintain a daily presence in the plants that make products for markets in the United States.
Mr. Ritz said the country's biggest meat plants also serve Canadian markets, and that inspectors there ensure the safety of all products, including those for domestic consumption.
"Meat is meat coming down the line. They [the inspectors]have no idea where it's going to go, they just want to make it safe," he said.
Federal officials said they expect to have a similar presence of inspectors within the next six months at plants that only produce meat for domestic markets.
Federal officials said 70 inspectors are currently being hired and trained.
"Within six months, we'll have this fully covered off," said Cameron Prince, vice-president of operations at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
The opposition blasted the government's "double standard" on inspection regimes.