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NEW RESTRICTIONS ON BEEF OVERKILL: RUNCIMAN, BROWN

BROCKVILLE - The Ontario government has gone overboard on new restrictions that prohibit licensed butchers from cutting, wrapping, and freezing beef from local farmers who kill their own cattle for family use, says Bob Runciman, MPP and Gord Brown, MP for Leed-Grenville.

The two Leeds-Grenville representatives have received complaints from local farmers who have recently discovered that they can no longer have their personal cattle, killed on their own farms, cut and wrapped by area producers including butcher shops.

“This is another case of overkill that is causing grief for Ontario beef farmers,” said Runciman. “Now if a farmer wants to eat his own beef, killed on his own farm, he has to have the skill and facilities to butcher the animal, wrap and freeze it himself. This is ridiculous.”

The other alternative is for the farmer to transport live cattle to the closest abattoir and have it slaughtered there. This will mean beef farmers will have to pay almost commercial prices for cattle raised on their own farm.

Prior to September 1, 2004, farmers could kill a beef cow on their own farm and take it to licensed meat shops to be cut up, wrapped and frozen.

Strangely enough the new regulations do not apply to wild game.

“We are not talking about beef that is going to be sold, we are talking about personal beef for personal use,” said Runciman. “No wonder farmers feel they are in the gunsights of the McGuinty government.”

Runciman is circulating a petition he will introduce when the Ontario government resumes sitting on October 12. Brown, the federal member, has agreed to help circulate the petition because he has also received complaints and agrees with Runciman these new restrictions won’t really promote safety but will prove costly to local farmers.

Media Contact:
Don Swayne
(613) 342-9522

For Immediate Release
NEW RESTRICTIONS ON BEEF OVERKILL: RUNCIMAN, BROWN BROCKVILLE - The Ontario government has gone overboard on new restrictions that prohibit licensed butchers from cutting, wrapping, and freezing beef from local farmers who kill their own cattle for family use, says Bob Runciman, MPP and Gord Brown, MP for Leed-Grenville. The two Leeds-Grenville representatives have received complaints from local farmers who have recently discovered that they can no longer have their personal cattle, killed on their own farms, cut and wrapped by area producers including butcher shops. “This is another case of overkill that is causing grief for Ontario beef farmers,” said Runciman. “Now if a farmer wants to eat his own beef, killed on his own farm, he has to have the skill and facilities to butcher the animal, wrap and freeze it himself. This is ridiculous.” The other alternative is for the farmer to transport live cattle to the closest abattoir and have it slaughtered there. This will mean beef farmers will have to pay almost commercial prices for cattle raised on their own farm. Prior to September 1, 2004, farmers could kill a beef cow on their own farm and take it to licensed meat shops to be cut up, wrapped and frozen. Strangely enough the new regulations do not apply to wild game. “We are not talking about beef that is going to be sold, we are talking about personal beef for personal use,” said Runciman. “No wonder farmers feel they are in the gunsights of the McGuinty government.” Runciman is circulating a petition he will introduce when the Ontario government resumes sitting on October 12. Brown, the federal member, has agreed to help circulate the petition because he has also received complaints and agrees with Runciman these new restrictions won’t really promote safety but will prove costly to local farmers. Media Contact: Don Swayne (613) 342-9522
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