For release: October 07, 2003

GOVERNMENT PROVISIONALLY SUSPENDS LICENCE OF ABATTOIR

TORONTO - The director of the Food Inspection Branch at the Ministry of Agriculture and Food (OMAF) took immediate action today by provisionally suspending the licence of a provincially inspected meat processing plant at Pittsburgh Institution. The action was taken hours after the warden of the federal corrections facility near Kingston, Ontario, contacted OMAF to report allegations of questionable practices at the abattoir.

The director of OMAF's Food Inspection Branch directed the Ministry of Natural Resources to investigate allegations of violations of the Meat Inspection Act (Ontario).

Information was provided to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the office of Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health, which notified the staff of the Kingston Health Unit.

Correctional Service Canada has advised OMAF that an investigation is being carried out by law enforcement agencies.

Although there is no known threat to public health, all meat products have been detained in the plant as a precautionary measure.

Contact:
Adele Pelland
Communications Branch
(416) 326-3029

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