Dead animal disposal regs. change

Gary Sliworsky
Ag. Rep.

The Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA) has made regulatory changes to the Dead Animal Disposal Act (DADA) that will provide some relief for producers facing livestock mortality disposal issues, and increase efficiency for deadstock collectors. Overall, the revised requirements are more outcome-based and provide more flexibility for operators.
The amendment to DADA Regulation 263 came into effect in June 2006.
Before the amendment came into effect, producers were required to dispose of dead animals within 48 hours of death by burial, composting, using the services of a licensed deadstock collector or by delivery of the carcass to a laboratory for postmortem examination, investigation or loss adjustment. Livestock producers can now store their mortalities for more than 48 hours prior to disposal, under very specific conditions. This can provide both livestock producers and deadstock collectors with some cost savings by allowing more efficient use of collectors’ resources. It also recognizes the difficulty with on-farm burial in the winter months due to equipment limitations.
Specifically, the changes provide more flexibility for livestock producers by allowing carcasses:
·To be moved and stored on another farm property owned by the producer; or
·To be moved and stored on another farmer’s property pending pick up by a licensed collector.
At the chosen location, carcasses may be stored:
· In a refrigerated state, up to 14 days if kept at 4°C or less; or
·In a frozen state, up to 240 days if stored at -18°C or less
Stored carcasses must be hidden from public view and stored under conditions that protect them from scavengers and other pests. Any stored carcass that begins to decompose must be disposed of immediately as set out in the amended regulations.
There are also changes to Vehicle Requirements for Transporting Dead Animals and changes for Receiving Plants and Rendering Plants.
For the exact wording of the regulation, please visit the e-laws website or call Kevin Joynes, OMAFRA’s Dead Animal Disposal Advisor, 519-826-7510.