CANADIAN BEEF GRADING AGENCY

MAKING CHANGES TO GRADE REQUIREMENTS

THE PROCESS TO INITIATE CHANGE

PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT

Proposals for changes to the Grade Requirements Document can be submitted to the CBGA board at any time. To initiate a change or addition, requests can be submitted online or by downloading the “Application for Amendment” form.

DOCUMENT REVIEW PROCESS

The process to submit proposals, and the process to review proposals that could result in changes to the Grade Requirements Document are described below. These processes apply to material changes to the Grade Requirements Document.

THE CANADIAN BEEF GRADING AGENCY

The Canadian Beef Grading Agency (CBGA) is a private not-for-profit corporation accredited by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to delivery grading services for beef carcasses in Canada. The beef grade standards or “Requirements” for what constitutes a grade are managed by the industry Livestock Grade Requirements Standing Committee, as overseen by the Board of Directors of the CBGA. These Requirements are empowered through incorporation by reference in the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, as established by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Livestock
Grade
Requirements
Standing
Committee

The Livestock Grade Requirements Standing Committee (LGRSC) is a standing committee of the CBGA. The CBGA has final authority over the LGRSC and any recommendations by the LGRSC.

THE OBJECTIVES

  1. Manage and administer the process of investigating the merits and assessing the impacts to industry and consumers of changes to grade requirements.
  2. Formulate and recommend amendments to the Grade Requirements Document.
  3. Ensure the evolving needs of consumers and industry are addressed through the Grade Requirements Document

MISSION/MANDATE

The Mission/Mandate of the LGRSC is to ensure grading requirements continue to reflect the needs of consumers and the industry by maintaining, reviewing and recommending amendments to the Beef, Bison, and Veal Carcass Grade Requirements Document.

GUIDING PRINCIPLES

1. CONCENSUS-BASED DECISION MAKING

The Committee seeks consensus for recommendations relating to amendments or additions to the Grade Requirements Document. If consensus cannot be reached on a resolution, the members will vote on the resolution. The vote results will be supplied to the CBGA Board with comments and reasoning.

2. TRANSPARENT PROCESS

The process to identify, investigate, research, consider and define changes to the Grade Requirements Document is clear, transparent and open to stakeholder input while respecting considerations related to confidentiality as appropriate.

3. RESOURCES

The Committee relies on resources (human and financial) from Committee Member organizations, and when required external parties, to review, research and develop solutions to evolve grading requirements.

4. GRADE REQUIREMENTS DOCUMENT CHANGES

When considering amendments to the Grade Requirements Document, the Committee strives for consistency, reasonableness, clarity and timeliness.

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