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Canada has proposed a ban on feeding all
table scraps to pigs and poultry so that it can keep and expand
export markets, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency said in an
industry notice on Friday.
Canada banned the feeding of scraps
containing meat in 2001 after an outbreak of the virulent
foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom, but allowed "edible
residual materials" in feed such as bread, vegetables, and
pasteurized milk, the agency said.
"This change will remove the use of
potentially dangerous unapproved feed products as a source of feed
for swine and poultry," the agency said in an analysis of its
proposed regulation.
Few Canadian farmers feed scraps to pigs
and poultry, and major livestock groups frown upon the
practice.
The materials, such as leftovers from
restaurants, were allowed under permits from the agency, but the
agency said it plans to cancel all permits under the proposed
regulation, which is open for public comment until July 16, the
notice said.
The ban would reduce the risk of meat
being fed to livestock, and the risk of harmful bacteria or toxins
ending up in the food supply, the agency said.
In 2001, British pigs fed table scraps
from restaurants serving illegal pork imported from China fell ill
to foot and mouth disease.
More than four million animals were
slaughtered after the outbreak and British beef was banned from
many markets. |
