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CHAPTER 1 - INTRODUCTION, POLICIES PROTOCOLS AND PROCEDURES

1.6 Registration and licensing protocol

1.6.1 Application for registration and licence

An application for registration of an establishment shall be made in writing to the Executive Director, Operations of the area in which the establishment is or is to be located.

An application for a licence to operate a registered establishment shall be made in writing to the Director, Meat and Processed Animal Products Division in Ottawa through the appropriate Area Office.

Forms for applications (see Annex A, form CFIA 3043, and Annex B, form CFIA 4155, of Chapter 2) may be obtained from any Executive Director, Operations, Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Addresses and telephone numbers are shown in Annex D of the Chapter 2 of this manual. A supplement to these application forms (form CFIA 4198, see Annex C of chapter 2) must be attached to new applications and to applications involving changes in the activities carried out at the establishment. A summary of the registration and licensing procedures may be found in Annex C of this chapter.

1.6.1(1) Existing non registered facility

Where the application is on behalf of an existing non registered facility, the appropriate Executive Director, Operations (EDO), will arrange for a Regional Representative (RR) to conduct an initial survey, to determine if the establishment meets sanitary, structural and operational requirements. The Regional Representative (RR) shall complete a written report which shall indicate in detail the nature and extent of any alterations that are required. The applicant will be given a copy of this report and requested to indicate to the EDO whether or not he intends to proceed with his application for registration.

If he wishes to proceed, a copy of the regional supervisor's report and a copy of the application together with plans and specifications in quadruplicate, indicating the existing buildings, together with the proposed alterations shall be submitted for review and registration by the Chief, Plants and Equipment Evaluation, Meat and Processed Animal Products Division, through the EDO. A recommendation from the EDO, or his representative, shall accompany the submission (See Chapter 2, sections 2.2 and 2.5 for details to be provided with the submission). The Application for a licence to operate a registered establishment should accompany the application.

1.6.1(2) Facility not yet constructed

Where the application is for a facility not yet constructed, complete plans and specifications, in quadruplicate along with the recommendations of the Executive Director, Operations, or his representative, shall be submitted for review and registration by the Chief, Plants and Equipment Evaluation. The Application for a licence to operate a registered establishment should accompany the application.

In the case of the above, before the selection of a site and preparation of plans, etc., (see Chapter 2, sections 2.1, 2.3, 2.4 and 2.5) the applicant should review the location and tentative plans with the EDO, or his representative, to assure compliance with Agency requirements.

N.B. In all cases, until advised of the acceptability of plans and specifications, it is most important that the applicant refrains from acquiring property or from undertaking construction or renovation. Failure to observe this advice may result in unnecessary expense and inconvenience to the applicant.

1.6.2 Registration and licence

Further to application as described in 1.6.1 above, the following procedure will be followed.

1.6.2(1) Registration of an establishment

In the case of a slaughtering or a processing operation, it will be necessary for a number to be assigned prior to registration. This is to enable the applicant-operator to submit labels for registration and to obtain Meat Inspection Legend Stamps. The request for a number is to be made to the Director, Meat and Processed Animal Products Division by the Executive Director, Operations, after consultation with the applicant-operator to determine the lead time required (normally 8-10 weeks). A reply indicating the number assigned will be sent to the EDO, (Annex A of this chapter is to be used for the application and for the response). A number will be set aside only if an application for a licence to operate a registered establishment has been received.

In the case of a storage, a long lead time is not required but a request for a number should be made at least a week or so prior to the anticipated date of registration.

The registration of an establishment is deemed to become effective on the date the Chief, Plants and Equipment Evaluation, receives confirmation from the area office that construction has been completed in keeping with the accepted blueprints (including conditions of acceptance) and that it meets applicable requirements (Final inspection report).

1.6.2(2) Licence to operate a registered establishment

The applicant-operator must submit an application to operate the registered establishment to the Director, Meat and Processed Animal Products Division in the prescribed form (see Annex B and C of chapter 2).

There shall not be more than one operator for a registered establishment at anytime. However an operator may use any business name listed on the operator's licence for the purpose of labelling.

The Executive Director, Operations must notify the Director, Meat and Processed Animal Products Division of the effective date of the beginning of inspection. Annex B of this chapter must be used for that purpose. This information must be forwarded by facsimile the day the inspection is granted. The information will then be relayed to all concerned.

Operations under inspection shall not be permitted to commence until the operator has all the equipment and material necessary to operate the registered establishment in accordance with the Meat Inspection Regulations, 1990. In addition, in the case of slaughtering and processing establishments, these are to be properly equipped with the appropriate stamps, label and recipe registrations, etc.

Once the procedural requirements described in 1.6.2(1) have been satisfactorily fulfilled, the notice of new inspection services provided (Annex B of this chapter) and a satisfactory final inspection report are received by the Meat and Processed Animal Products Division, a licence to operate the registered establishment will be issued to the applicant-operator.

1.6.3 Modification to the status of an establishment/operator

1. Change in ownership

   In the case of a change in ownership, form CFIA 3043 (Application for the registration of an establishment) must be completed and forwarded through the inspector in charge and the Executive Director, Operations to the Director, Meat and Processed Animal Products Division.

2. Change involving the operator

   In the case of a change involving the operator (eg. business name, registration number), form CFIA 4155 (Application for licence to operate a registered establishment) must be completed and forwarded together with the licence, through the inspector in charge and the Executive Director, Operations to the Director, Meat and Processed Animal Products Division, with a view to obtain a new licence.

   N.B. In instances where there is no change in the nature of operations it is not necessary to complete the supplement to application (form CFIA 4198).

3. Changes in the activities in a registered establishment

   In cases of alteration to a registered establishment, see section 2.5.2, chapter 2.

1.6.4 Renewal of the licence to operate a registered establishment

The licence to operate a registered establishment expires on March 31 in every year in the case of an abattoir or a processing establishment. It expires on March 31 of the third year following the date of issuance or renewal in the case of any other registered establishment. With the exception of the circumstances described in the next paragraph, the licence will be renewed before it expires, by the Regional Representative (RR) responsible of the inspection of the establishment.

The licence shall not be renewed when:

• the operator has any outstanding fee payable under the Meat Inspection Regulations, 1990, or
• the operator has not all the equipment and material necessary to operate the registered establishment in accordance with the Meat Inspection Regulations, 1990.

When the space provided in the renewal section of the licence to operate a registered establishment is filled, the responsible Regional Representative shall request the Director, Meat and Processed Animal Products Division, the issuance of a new licence. (The request should be submitted prior to the first of February of the year the new license is required).