Halifax Court Fines Food Companies

by Dan Flynn
Jan 08, 2010
Food Safety News, Marler Clarke


Two Canadian meat companies are paying big fines after pleading guilty
to identical infractions last October that are violations of laws
enforced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Try Canada Meats Inc. of 15 Queen Street, Charlottetown, Prince Edward
Island, pleaded guilty on Oct. 23, 2009 in Provincial Court in Halifax,
Nova Scotia, to eight counts of contravening the Meat Inspection Act and
eight counts of contravening the Food and Drugs Act.

The company was fined $1,500 for each count, totaling $24,000 in fines.
According to CFIA:

The use of the meat inspection legend is approved for persons who are
licensed to operate registered establishments with the CFIA.

Try Canada Meats Inc., which is not licensed to operate such a
registered establishment, used on a number of occasions between April
18, 2008 and July 30, 2009 a legend, mark, symbol or any combination
thereof that so closely resembled the meat inspection legend as to be
likely mistaken for it, contrary to subsection 6(a) of the Meat
Inspection Act.

Additionally, Try Canada Meats Inc. labeled, packaged and sold meat
products in a manner that was false, misleading or deceptive, contrary
to subsection 5(1) of the Food and Drugs Act.

Perfection Packers Inc. of 1254 Bedford Highway, Bedford, Nova Scotia,
also pleaded guilty on Oct. 23, 2009 in Provincial Court in Halifax,
Nova Scotia to eight counts of contravening the Meat Inspection Act and
eight counts of contravening the Food and Drugs Act.

The company was fined $1,500 for each count, totaling $24,000 in fines.
According to CFIA:

Perfection Packers Inc., which is not licensed to operate such a
registered establishment, used on a number of occasions between April
18, 2008 and July 30, 2009 a legend, mark, symbol or any combination
there of that so closely resembled the meat inspection legend as to be
likely mistaken for it, contrary to subsection 6(a) of the Meat
Inspection Act.

Additionally, Perfection Packers Inc. labeled, packaged and sold meat
products in a manner that was false, misleading or deceptive, contrary
to subsection 5(1) of the Food and Drugs Act.

Subsection 6(a) of the Meat Inspection Act states:

No person shall apply or use any legend, word, mark, symbol or design or
any combination thereof that so closely resembles the meat inspection
legend as to be likely to be mistaken for it.

Subsection 5(1) of the Food and Drugs Act states:

No person shall label, package, treat, process, sell or advertise any
food in a manner that is false, misleading or deceptive or is likely to
create an erroneous impression regarding its character, value, quantity,
composition, merit or safety.

Perfection Packers Inc. of 1254 Bedford Highway, Bedford, Nova Scotia,
pleaded guilty on Oct. 23, 2009 in Provincial Court in Halifax, Nova
Scotia to eight counts of contravening the Meat Inspection Act and eight
counts of contravening the Food and Drugs Act.

The company was fined $1,500 for each count, totaling $24,000 in fines.
According to CFIA:

The use of the meat inspection legend is approved for persons who are
licensed to operate registered establishments with the CFIA.

The CFIA is responsible for enforcing a variety of federal statutes,
including the Meat Inspection Act and the Food and Drugs Act as it
relates to food.

The Meat Inspection Act governs, among other responsibilities, the
import and export and interprovincial trade of meat products.

The Food and Drugs Act governs food, drugs cosmetics and therapeutic
devices.