Archived - Notification of charges laid against Hylife Foods Inc. and Hylife Foods LP under the Meat Inspection Act

August, 4, 2020, Ottawa – On July 22, 2020, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) laid three charges under the Meat Inspection Regulations, 1990 against Hylife Foods Inc. and Hylife Foods LP.

The charges were laid under the former Meat Inspection Regulations, 1990 as the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations were not in force for meat slaughter activities at the time of the alleged offences.

It is alleged that on September 18, 2018, Hylife Foods Inc. and Hylife Foods LP handled hogs and used equipment in Neepawa, Manitoba in a manner that caused the animals avoidable distress or pain, thereby committing offences under section 21(3) of the Meat Inspection Act.

One charge was laid under Section 62(1) of the Meat Inspection Regulations which states that:

62 (1) No food animal shall be handled in a manner that subjects the animal to avoidable distress or avoidable pain.

Two charges allege that Hylife Foods Inc. and Hylife Foods LP used equipment for rendering hogs unconscious in a manner that subjected the animals to avoidable distress or pain.

Section 80(b) of the Meat Inspection Regulations states that:

80 No equipment or instrument for restraining, slaughtering or rendering unconscious any food animal shall be used by any person for those purposes

b) where the condition of the equipment or instrument or the manner in which or the circumstances under which the equipment or instrument is used might subject the animal to avoidable distress or avoidable pain.

Counsel for Hylife Foods Inc. and Hylife Foods LP will appear at the Winnipeg Provincial Court on August 10^th, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. local time.

The CFIA is responsible for the administration and enforcement of federal legislation, acts and regulations, including the Meat Inspection Act and Regulations. The CFIA is dedicated to safeguarding food, animal, and plant health, which enhance the health and well-being of Canada's people, environment, and economy.

The CFIA issues notifications of charges laid to inform the public when charges have been laid by the Public Prosecution Service of Canada (PPSC) based on information provided by CFIA's Enforcement and Investigation Services (EIS). This Notice is part of our commitment to openness and transparency and ongoing efforts to increase awareness of our role in encouraging compliance with the various acts and regulations. In all cases, the subject of charges is presumed innocent until proven guilty.