Deadline for comments approaches

Friday, February 19, 2010

by SUSAN MANN

Time is running out for those wanting to comment on proposed changes to provincial egg regulations.

People have until Feb. 22 to comment on the Ontario agriculture ministry’s plans to either roll Livestock and Livestock Products Act regulations 724 (eggs) and 726 (processed eggs) into the Food Safety and Quality Act or reference them if there’s a federal regulation that covers the same thing.

Egg Farmers of Ontario general manager Harry Pelissero says the proposed changes likely won’t impact farmers, based on what he heard during a ministry information session held about a month ago. But he is waiting to see details on how the ministry plans to roll two current egg regulations into the Food Safety and Quality Act.

The ministry’s proposal includes removing outdated and redundant provincial requirements that don’t align with the federally inspected system and retaining food safety requirements. One rule that will be retained is a requirement for all eggs sold in Ontario to be graded except for ones sold at the farm gate.

Grading ensures the quality and safety of chicken eggs sold to consumers. Eggs that are cracked, dirty or leaking have a higher risk of Salmonella contamination and are prevented from entering the table egg market. They’re detected through a process called candling at a grading station. A light is used to make interior defects and cracks in the shell visible where they otherwise may not be seen by the naked eye.

Marshall King, grain and egg manager with Organic Meadow Co-operative, says retaining the requirement for all eggs to be graded, except those sold at the farm gate, gives consumers assurances of the egg’s size and cleanliness.
 
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has been the only inspection agency for all egg grading and egg processing stations across Ontario since the 1990s. Certain provincial requirements related to Ontario egg and processed egg stations in the regulations are no longer needed, it says in the ministry’s written proposal document.

The document explains the purpose of the proposal is to ensure there’s a modern regulation for the fresh and processed egg sectors that reduces barriers to innovation, reflects industry and government practices and maintains food safety.

As for organic eggs, King says he didn’t see anything in the proposal that’s “going to change the way we do business.”

Comments can be sent by mail to: Patrick Thornton, 1 Stone Road West 2SW, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 4YZ or by email to: patrick.thornton@ontario.ca or, before Feb. 22, to the notice of the proposed egg regulation under the Food Safety and Quality Act, 2001 on the Regulatory Registry (current proposals) at: www.ontariocanada.com/registry. BF