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 Agencys
role in enforcing the acts and regulations for which it is responsible.
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For more information, please contact:
Jean François
Bolduc
Communications, Quebec Area
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Telephone: 514-283-3815, ext. 4253
Fax: 514-283-3143
E-mail: bolducjf@inspection.gc.ca
