Source: Canadian Cattlemen

A Montreal-area poultry cutting and processing plant has temporarily lost its federal license pending "corrective actions" on its food safety regime.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Tuesday it has suspended the license to produce poultry for Distributeurs des Volailles, Beurre et Oeufs Akme, based at Saint-Eustache, west of Montreal.

Akme, in business since 1967, was licensed for boning, cutting and "other processing" of poultry and red meat, and for exports to the U.S., South Africa and Chile.

The company has also been licensed as an inspection station for imported and/or "detained" meat products coming in from the U.S., and for such meat products (other than beef) from South America.

Controls for food safety "are not being reliably implemented in the facility on a consistent basis," CFIA said in Tuesday's release.

Akme also has "failed to correct deficiencies previously identified through CFIA inspections including corrective action requests related to general hygiene requirements," the agency said.

The agency's specific concerns weren't mentioned in the release. The suspension stands until Akme has "fully implemented the necessary corrective actions," CFIA said.