Canadian Poultry Company Fined
CANADA - A poultry company in British Columbia has been fined C$160,000 for offences under the Health of Animals Regulations and the Meat Inspection Regulations.On 2 December 2014, in British Columbia (BC) Provincial Court, Lilydale Inc. was convicted of two counts of contravening paragraph 143(1) (d) of the the Health of Animals Regulations and two counts of contravening subsection 62(1) of the Meat Inspection Regulations. Lilydale Inc. was ordered to pay a C$160,000 fine.
Paragraph 143(1) (d) of the Health of Animals Regulations indicates that animals cannot be transported when injury or undue suffering is likely to be caused to the animals by reason of undue exposure to the weather.
Subsection 62(1) of the Meat Inspection Regulations indicates that no one can handle a food animal in a manner that subjects it to avoidable distress or pain.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) investigation determined that on 18 January 2012, at or near Chilliwack, BC, Lilydale Inc. exposed the animals to cold weather, resulting in undue suffering and/or death, contrary to paragraph 143(1) (d) of the Health of Animals Regulations.
The CFIA's investigation also determined that on 18 January 2012, at or near Chilliwack, BC, Lilydale Inc. left chickens in transportation crates, outside in cold weather conditions, which resulted in avoidable distress and/or death, contrary to subsection 62(1) of the Meat Inspection Regulations.