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Humane handling and slaughter of food animals in Canada

The humane handling and slaughter of food animals in Canada is a shared responsibility of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, industry, transporters, operators, other stakeholders and every person who handles live food animals.

Canadian law requires that all licence holders who operate slaughter establishments under federal regulations, ensure that all species of food animals are handled and slaughtered humanely; starting with their arrival at the establishment, until slaughter in the facility. The agency verifies that licence holders are compliant with the Health of Animals Act, the Safe Food for Canadians Act and the irrespective regulations.

Part 6 (Commodity-specific requirements), Division 7 (Meat Products and Food Animals) of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) defines the conditions for the humane handling and slaughter of all species of food animals. Some of the provisions contained in the regulations include:

When the agency identifies non-compliance with the legislation it administers and enforces, it has a number of tools it can use to respond. Learn more about compliance and enforcement activities.

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