Agricultural Commodity Inspector

In Canada, the federal government groups and organizes occupations based on a National Occupational Classification (NOC) system. This alis occupation may not reflect the entire NOC group it is part of. Data for the NOC group can apply across multiple occupations.

The NOC system is updated every 5 years to reflect changes in the labour market. Government forms and labour market data may group and refer to an occupation differently, depending on the system used.

Here is how this occupation has been classified over time.

2006 NOC

• 2222.2: Fruit and Vegetables Inspectors

2006 NOC-S

• C122: Agricultural and Fish Products Inspectors

2011 NOC

• 2222: Agricultural and fish products inspectors

2016 NOC

• 2222: Agricultural and fish products inspectors

2021 NOC

• 22111: Agricultural and fish products inspectors

2023 OaSIS

• 22111.02: Fruit and vegetables inspectors

Agricultural commodity inspectors’ duties vary depending on the types of products they inspect (for example, fruits and vegetables, meat, or grains). Inspectors may specialize in one or more product types. In general, they:

• Conduct hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) audits to identify potential food safety hazards so they can be reduced or eliminated
• Check sanitation and food safety programs
• Make sure product labels are accurate
• Supervise the seal of containers for export
• Interpret and enforce government acts and regulations
• Explain standards to plant managers

Dairy inspectors:

• Collect samples and test them for microbiological, chemical-residue, and vitamin content
• Register and license dairy plants
• Make sure the transportation and handling of products meet regulatory requirements

Some dairy inspectors work as consultants at dairy plants. They solve problems and assess equipment, products, and systems. They may also specialize in other areas such as plant construction and layout or food safety systems.

Feed inspectors:

• Check feed for harmful chemicals (such as pesticides) and contamination (such as salmonella)
• Investigate feed-related contamination of meat, milk, and eggs
• Inspect commercial feed mills
• Inspect farms that produce medicated feeds

Fruit and vegetable inspectors:

• Inspect fresh and processed fruit and vegetable products, including honey, at all stages of sale except in stores
• Make sure grade packaging and marking rules are followed
• Inspect imported produce for disease and damage and to ensure proper grading and labelling
• Check processing plants for sanitation, quality, and compliance with standards

Meat inspectors work in meat processing facilities. They:

• Assess whether animals are healthy and fit for slaughter
• Inspect carcasses to see if they are fit to eat
• Identify carcasses that may have disease
• Run monitory testing programs
• Inspect facilities to ensure proper sanitation and pest control measures are in place
• Ensure facilities follow federal and provincial regulations for manufacturing, preparing, and packaging meat products
• Ensure that the handling and slaughter of all livestock at their inspected facilities meet government standards for humane treatment
• Collect and prepare samples for laboratory analysis
• Identify non-compliance that impacts food safety, and issue a Corrective Action Request (CAR) to the plant operator, as needed
• Approve products that are safe for consumption and ensure unsafe products are removed
• Monitor facilities’ operation to ensure compliance to regulatory requirements
• Verify and sign off export documents for shipping products to other countries

Poultry inspectors:

• Inspect wholesale businesses, storage facilities, registered egg stations, hatcheries, and egg product plants
• Monitor grading by company employees
• Inspect sanitation procedures
• Certify that finished products meet standards

Plant product inspectors:

• Check plant products at various locations, such as seed-cleaning plants, fertilizer plants, pedigree seed growers, and pesticide stores
• Collect samples for lab analysis
• Ensure pesticide, fertilizer, and seed labels are accurate
• Inspect farmers’ fields for purity of pedigreed seed type
• Establish seed grades
• Label and seal graded seed products

Livestock inspectors work in designated inspection sites, including auction markets, assembly stations, feedlots, and provincial and federal abattoirs (slaughterhouses). They:

• Examine the brands and other identifiers on livestock, and examine livestock manifests, livestock permits, bills of sale, and any other documentation that determines right to possession by the person presenting the livestock for inspection
• Count the livestock
• Withhold the proceeds or prohibit the sale of livestock if ownership is in question
• Impound, identify, and document stray livestock and arrange for the board and maintenance of strays prior to their return or sale
• Assist with the settlement of claims arising from damages caused by stray livestock
• Help RCMP livestock investigators with suspected cases of theft, illegal branding, and unlawful confinement of livestock, and sometimes testify as expert witnesses
• Initiate field responses to any foreign animal diseases or zoonotic diseases (diseases that can jump from animals to humans)

Agricultural commodity inspectors work in a variety of places, depending on their specialty. They may work in:

• Livestock auction markets
• Terminal yards
• Frozen food plants
• Canneries
• Dairy plants
• Meat and poultry slaughter and processing plants
• Hatcheries or egg stations
• Nurseries
• Fertilizer manufacturers, blenders, and outlets
• Feed mills
• Producer fields
• Pesticide plants or warehouses
• Farms
• Seed cleaning and conditioning plants
• Offices, including remote work

Agricultural commodity inspectors may come across unpleasant odours and loud noises. They may need to stand, crouch, or kneel for long periods.

They may meet many different people in a typical day. They may travel a lot. They sometimes work long and irregular hours.

Agricultural commodity inspectors work for provincial agricultural departments and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.

Trainees learn on the job from experienced inspectors. Because their jobs are specific to certain industries, working and learning on the job is the best means of training. Trainees are supervised while they learn legislation and regulations and develop skills and judgment. After 6 to 12 months, they are given more responsibility. By their second year, they can work on their own. With enough experience, they can move into supervisory or managerial roles.

Industry Concentration

This section shows the industries where the majority of people in this occupation work. The data is based on the 2016 Census.

In Alberta, this occupation is part of 1 or more 2016 National Occupational Classification (NOC) groups.

In the 2222: Agricultural and fish products inspectors occupational group, 77.2% of people work in:

• Public Administration
• Manufacturing

Employment Outlook

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors including:

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Employment Outlook

Employment outlook is influenced by a wide variety of factors. Learn how these factors can affect your career decisions.

• Time of year (for seasonal jobs)
• Location in Alberta
• Employment turnover (when people leave existing positions)
• Occupational growth (when new positions are created)
• Size of the occupation
• Trends and events that affect overall employment, especially in the industry or industries from the previous list

In Alberta, the 2222: Agricultural and fish products inspectors occupational group is expected to have a below-average annual growth of 0% from 2019 to 2023. In addition to job openings created by employment turnover, 0 new positions are forecasted to be created within this occupational group each year.

Note
NOC groups often include several related occupations. Although there is labour market data for the larger NOC group, this occupation makes up only a part of that group. It means data for this occupation may be different than the data shown. For example, only some of the new positions to be created will be for this occupation. It also applies to other data for the NOC group such as number of people employed.

Source: 2019-2023 Alberta Regional Occupational Demand Outlook

Employment turnover is expected to increase as members of the baby boom generation retire over the next few years.

Alberta Agriculture, Forestry and Rural Economic Development website: www.alberta.ca/agriculture-forestry-and-rural-economic-development.aspx

Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website: inspection.canada.ca/

Get information and referrals about career, education, and employment options from Alberta Supports.