May 29, 2003 Canadian Press

The industry, which is responsible for the safe disposal of dead animals and animal parts that can't be used for human food, has been rocked by the American decision to close its borders to their products in light of the mad cow scare in Alberta. In a letter to her federal counterpart Thursday, Ontario Agriculture Minister Helen Johns noted several deadstock collectors in the province have already closed shop.

"I anticipate that the entire industry will be shut down within a week," Johns wrote.

"Without immediate finance assistance for deadstock collectors and renderers, Ontario is facing potential environmental risks from improper waste disposal."

Moreover, the collapse of the deadstock and rendering sector would put the province's "entire livestock production and meat-processing industries in jeopardy," Johns said.

Every week, millions of kilograms of non-edible animal parts are produced in Canada by farms, abattoirs, butchers and grocery stores and become part of the $400-million deadstock industry.

In Ontario alone, about 12,000 tonnes of carcasses, slaughter remnants and restaurant grease are produced every week and are recycled into pet food, animal feed, soap and other products.

About 40 to 60 per cent of the material is exported to rendering plants in the United States but the border has been closed.

Federal Agriculture Minister Lyle Vanclief said Thursday he recognized the problem as a serious issue that needed to be dealt with and said a plan would be put in place. However, he gave no details.

"Deadstock services are provincial jurisdiction. However, we have an overriding federal-provincial issue with that," he said.

"I don't think any of us want to see dead animals lying around."

Earlier this week, the head of Ontario's largest deadstock company warned of the environmental hazards posed by rotting carcasses that aren't disposed of properly.

"If Walkerton wasn't bad enough, wait till this stuff comes around," said Dave Smith, president of Atwood Pet Foods.

Alberta Agriculture Minister Shirley McClellan said Thursday her province has been coping so far.

"It's getting tougher as the days go on," she said.

"For the rendering people, this is getting pretty critical as well."

McClellan said she planned more discussions with the industry, perhaps as early as Friday.