QUEBEC: Olymel LP fined $7,000 on two charges

05.dec.07
Canadian Food Inspection Agency

On October 1, 2007, at the Joliette courthouse, Olymel LP of Berthierville entered two guilty pleas and was convicted of having contravened the Meat Inspection Act and its Regulations on two occasions.
Madam Justice Parent of the Court of Quebec ordered the company to pay $7,000 plus costs within 90 days.
The first offence, which occurred on May 27, 2003, involved the unlawful failure to give an inspector all reasonable assistance to enable the inspector to carry out his or her duties and functions, contrary to the Meat Inspection Act. The inspector had requested the removal of some live chickens that had fallen under a trailer during unloading. The fine for that first offence was $4,000.
The second offence, which occurred between August 14 and 18, 2003, involved having moved a detained trailer loaded with poultry crates without authorization from an inspector, contrary to the Meat Inspection Act. In that second case, the fine was set at $3,000.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is responsible for enforcing a variety of federal legislations, including the Meat Inspection Act and Regulations, which govern the import and export of and interprovincial trade in meat products, the registration of establishments, the inspection of animals and meat products in registered establishments and the standards for those establishments and for animals slaughtered and meat products prepared in those establishments.
Under its mandate, the CFIA provides Canadian businesses and consumers with inspection and related services that contribute to improving the overall integrity of the food safety, animal health and plant protection systems.
CFIA prosecution bulletins report on legal proceedings in which a conviction has been obtained. In publishing them, we are seeking to increase awareness of the Agency’s role in enforcing the acts and regulations for which it is responsible.