WHEREAS the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is developing regulations regarding the handling, transportation and disposal of Specified Risk Materials in order to facilitate the export of Canadian meat; andWHEREAS Alberta Environment is updating it’s guidelines regarding disposal of Specified Risk Materials (SRM’s) as well as Carcasses containing SRM’s;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Alberta Association of Municipal Districts and Counties lobby the CFIA and Alberta Environment with the intent of ensuring that the policies, regulations and procedures regarding the handling, transportation and disposal of SRM’s, and carcasses containing SRM’s are practical and do not discourage livestock owners from using good practices in disposal of carcasses.

The Crowsnest Pincher Creek Landfill has been disposing of carcasses of all types since it’s inception in 1976 and has been doing so under the guidance of Alberta Environment for about 10 years. This has been very successful in that it is a safe and environmentally responsible method of disposal and that the use of this service has been becoming more popular amongst livestock owners and others who have need to dispose of such materials.The Landfill has been forced to change its policy and refuse to accept any cattle carcasses and entrails that can not be certified free of SRM’s due to the fact that some of the guidelines are impossible to meet on the short term and appear to be extremely expensive. Even though some of these guidelines may be temporarily waived, the board feels that the liability of taking advantage of such waivers is unacceptable.Guidelines do allow livestock owners to dispose of carcasses and materials containing SRM’s on their own property as long as certain criteria are met, and in fact this procedure is less onerous than that which is required to transport and dispose at the landfill.The disposal of offal and carcasses on private property is problematic for a number of reasons. These are contamination of water supplies and associated health issues, the attraction of predators, and unsightliness.Sustainable Resource Development spends tens of thousand of dollars each spring to haul road killed deer up high in the mountains in order to attract bears away from ranches and communities. Leaving carcasses on private property will certainly interfere with this program.It is possible to have Southern Alberta Processing Co. to dispose of carcasses containing SRM’s at a cost of $.065 per pound but some producers feel that this amount is excessive.

The AAMDC has no current resolutions or background pertaining to this issue.

The Government of Alberta response to this resolution noted that this was under the jurisdiction of the CFIA. A letter to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) seeking a response was sent in February 2008. A response from CFIA was received in May 2008 outlining the harmonization of CFIA requirements and Albertas standards for Class II landfills. The response identified additional CFIA requirements regarding the assessment of landfill sites for SRM disposal. CFIA assured the AAMDC that it is committed to meeting the objectives of Canadas enhanced feed ban requirements in a practical and enforceable manner.