Mobile abattoirs: the BC experience

2005-2012For Sustain Ontario mobile abattoirs webinar

30 October 2012

Presenter: Kathleen GibsonFormer Manager of Meat Programs

for the BC Food Processors Association

Regulatory context

• Pre 2004: limited meat inspection areas• 2004 Meat Inspection Regulation under Food

Safety Act: licences, facility upgrades required for all slaughter for meat for human food

• 2005-12: programs in place to assist with licensing and related costs

• 2010: addition of D and E licences• 2011-present: prep for provincial inspection after

2013

BC’s graduated licensing system

Industry impact• Pre 2004, 300+ operations? A/B only option• 2004: 11 A/B• 2012: 59 A/B (43 A, 16 B) and 69 D/E• Significant cost to build/upgrade A/B (< $1M)• Mobiles may only be A or B• Still concern in some areas about facility

requirements for A/B, or lack of E• Still uncertainty about inspection post 2013

BC’s poultry mobiles 1/2

Passmore Pluckers, Slocan

Okanagan Poultry Processing, Kelowna

Salt Spring Island facility

North Okanagan Poultry Processors, Armstrong

BC’s poultry mobiles 2/2BC status Oct 2012: 8 licensed mobile units - 6 active, 1 stationary, 1 inactive

Cariboo-Central Interior Poultry Producers Association unit at docking station 1, Quesnel

Red meat mobiles

LEFT: BC’s Gate to Plate unit 1, Fort St. John

ABOVE: Island Grown Farmers’ Co-op unit 1, Washington State

BC status Oct 2012: 1 licensed mobile unit (inactive); 1 nearly licensed; 3 under construction

BC’s mobiles: lessons learned• Not simple as hoped e.g. “move unit not animal”

o Licence is for unit + approved docking stationo Each DS has to address potable water, waste, chilling, other issues (non-trivial!)o Two types docking station: community or individual farm

• Mobiles generally less cost-effective per carcass than fixed units:o Trailerable models cheaper to manufacture and operate than 53’ reefer type unitso Seem to work if start out debt freeo Volume is restricted o Time and cost for setup including ice-makingo Down time when unit moving from site to siteo Crew time and travel costs; or train more crewso Biosecurity of unit is a major consideration for farm-based docking stations

• Operational logistics issues:o Road access limits size; cramped quarters slow the processo Work flow is a key planning issueo Difficult to chill on site o Where to store carcasses if not on site? Red meat especially o Scheduling: everyone wants service at same times, challenge coordinating with inspectors

BC’s mobiles verdict so far?

1. 6 active mobile poultry units; 0 active red meat units2. Business case needs total cost accounting3. Manoeuverability vs. workflow limitations4. Mobilization has to be well thought out, and limited (it’s

still cheaper to move animals short distances)5. Invest in producer-processor relationships, build trust

through education, celebrate successes6. Emphasize pre-planning from birth to death of animals7. Provide online support for scheduling, education etc.8. Ask advice from/network with operators of active units

For further information:

• Abattoir licensing and inspection in BC:www.health.gov.bc.ca/protect/meat-regulation/ • BC mobiles business case spreadsheets, Salt

Spring Island multi-use project: Murray Coates, m.coates@shaw.ca

• North Okanagan Poultry Processors group and unit: Andrea Gunner, gunnera@telus.net