Executive Summary

In September 2019, the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce first drafted a policy on the Transportation of Animals in order to reduce food waste and provide the ability for unfit animals to be humanely slaughtered at an approved abattoir and not endure any more suffering than would be incurred by being transported to a veterinarian. Oftentimes an animal being transported to the nearest approved slaughter facility is the way to have the animal addressed as quickly and humanely as possible. 

The Health of Animals Regulations, last amended on February 26, 2025, included updated definitions and terminology in alignment with our recommendations, resulting in the policy being marked as completed in June 2025. 

Background: Why this Matters

In order to reduce food waste, and to keep beef stock off the black market, producers and licensed abattoirs need the ability to work with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and veterinarians to assess both compromised and unfit animals for possible transport to slaughter facilities. 

The health and welfare of all animals is of the utmost importance to all sectors of the meat producing industry. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency states “Protecting animal welfare in Canada is a shared responsibility between governments (federal, provincial, and territorial), and industry (producers, transporters and staff in registered slaughter establishments). With this statement in mind, industry had concerns regarding the transportation requirements for compromised animals and the potential for food waste, as well as undue costs being placed on producers to send these animals to the veterinarian. 

Industry states that certain compromised animals can be humanely transported to a slaughter facility using specialized provisions for transport to ensure the animals do not incur any undue suffering, however this transport provision does not include animals deemed ‘unfit’ who are only allowed to be transported to a veterinary establishment. The CFIA “recognizes that some degree of suffering by all animals is inevitable” and in these cases the animal would incur the same amount of discomfort being transported to a veterinary clinic as it would being transported to an approved slaughter facility, and would be treated with the same utmost care upon arrival. Federally inspected slaughter plants are already required to follow policies related to handling of non-ambulatory animals as referenced in the Transportation of Animals Program Compromised Animals Policy. 

Oftentimes, an animal being transported to the nearest approved slaughter facility is the way to have the animal addressed as quickly and humanely as possible, and this is the ultimate objective when considering animal welfare

What we have worked on for our members....

In September 2019, the Southeast Alberta Chamber of Commerce first drafted a policy on the Transportation of Animals in order to reduce food waste and provide the ability for unfit animals to be humanely slaughtered at an approved abattoir and not endure any more suffering than would be incurred by being transported to a veterinarian.

Additionally, we were able to take this policy forward for adoption by the Canadian Chamber of Commerce and advocate for changes to the federal government to:

1. Update and expand the Health of Animals Regulations Act Part XII – Transportation of Animals, to include transportation requirements for animals deemed ‘compromised’, animals deemed ‘unfit’, and animals deemed ‘non-ambulatory” to remain consistent with definitions provided in the Canadian Food Inspection policy titled Transportation of Animals Program Compromised Animals Policy. 

2. Work with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to update all documents regarding the transportation of compromised animals including, but not limited to, the Health of Animals Regulations, Transportation of Animals Program Compromised Animals Policy and the guidance document Livestock Transport Requirements in Canada to include that compromised animals and unfit animals may be transported to a licensed abattoir if steps are taken to prevent additional injury or undue suffering of the animal, for humane euthanizing and inspection of the meat product.

On review of the Health of Animals regulations in spring 2025, we noted that the regulations had been amended with the most recent amendments in February 2025, allowing us to mark our recommendations as complete.

View the Policy