When the BCFPA’s Meat Industry Enhancement Strategy (MIES) was set up in 2005, a Meat Industry Committee was struck to advise abattoir (slaughter facility) operators transitioning to provincial A or B licensing under the 2004 Meat Inspection Regulation.  This Committee included meat processors, livestock producers and others.  It provided direction until the MIES Help Desk was established in 2006, at which point the BCFPA’s attention was directed to licensing proponents on an individual basis.

The BCFPA’s support for making the Meat Inspection Regulation work is now focused on supporting the livestock[1] and meat sector post licensing transition.  A two-year Sustainable Food Safety Program has been approved.  Its mission is to support stability for the livestock and meat sector and an emerging food safety culture for BC through strategic relationship building and delivery of appropriately focused analysis, tools and training.

Under the program there are five project streams, one of which is Industry Development.  Its purpose is to facilitate strategic discussion amongst organizations and individuals involved with livestock and meat in BC to identify priority initiatives that the BCFPA can support.  Each project stream will have a project leader and an expert “reference group.”  The Meat Industry Committee will be the reference group for the Industry Development project, and the Project Leader will be the staff resource to the Committee.

Committee purposes

1. Provide general feedback and advice to the BCFPA Board and contractors on concerns and priorities for the livestock and meat sector in particular for BC slaughter and meat processing facilities
2. Via the BCFPA, provide ongoing industry perspective on the provincial meat processing licensing and inspection system
3. Identify outstanding policy issues for the BCFPA Advocacy Committee to take to relevant government agencies
4. Support and help develop Meat Industry Committee members and their businesses
5. Act as the reference group to the Industry Development Project under the BCFPA’s Sustainable Food Safety Program:

• advise and support Project Leader as required
• provide specific feedback and advice on Industry Development project direction, priorities, progress and resources
• initiate and help support sub-projects to help increase viability of BC meat processing
• review and comment on proposed and completed initiatives
• assist with information exchange between the BCFPA, the Association of BC Abattoirs, the Small Scale Food Processors Association and others in the overall interests of BC livestock and meat sector stability and harmony

Any BCFPA member is welcome to join the Committee.  The Committee is co-chaired by two BCFPA Board members: Musa Ismail (TaQwa Halal) and Pieter Vanderpol (Vanderpol Group).

[1] “Livestock” is assumed to include poultry as well as red meat