Ladies, gentlemen, thank you for your testimony.
Mr. Laws, welcome back. During your last visit, the meeting was rather short. We would have liked to continue asking you questions for a little longer. We will therefore take advantage of the fact that you are with us once again.
I would like to go back to the testimony you gave the first time you came. You spoke about the rate of testing. You said that the Canadian Meat Council participated in CFIA consultations on the new Listeria control measures that came into effect in April. You said that you still had questions that have not been resolved around this issue. I would like to ask you some very specific questions. You said that the policy should be amended to set the rate of testing based on the risk of the product produced. Do you want to create two categories? Are we to believe that some industries would require fewer tests, whereas others would need more?
I am concerned about the rate of testing. When I listen to Mr. Stein's testimony, I believe they are doing everything in their power to have the most tests possible, in order to ensure that their industry is bacteria-free. And yet, it seems to me to be quite a big business.
I would like more details on this issue. It appears to me to be somewhat contradictory; I would like you to talk a bit more about this subject.