Aug. 13, 2012, Ottawa – The Canadian government has released a draft model for improving food inspection in Canada.
Aug. 13, 2012, Ottawa – The Canadian government has released a draft model for improving food inspection in Canada. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is proposing a single
approach to food inspection that will provide consistent and appropriate
oversight across all regulated food commodities – either imported or
produced domestically.
“We have a world-class food safety system in Canada but we want it to
be the best,” said Gerry Ritz, agriculture minister. “A single
inspection approach will make an even stronger system that will benefit
all Canadians.”
The draft food inspection model is based on feedback from discussions
with inspectors and industry stakeholders as well as feedback on a
recent discussion document called The Case for Change that outlined the rationale for modernizing inspection.
In 2011, the government provided the CFIA with $100 million over five years to modernize food safety inspection
in Canada. In addition to building a consistent inspection model, this
investment is being used to provide better training and more modern
tools to front line food inspectors, as well as building additional
capacity in CFIA laboratories.
The CFIA
is seeking comments from consumers and industry stakeholders until
Oct. 31, 2012 on the following aspects of the proposed draft model:
- a single licensing and registration requirement for those
manufacturing, importing and/or exporting food for trade outside
provincial borders, - more consistent oversight and inspection across all regulated food commodities,
- a scaled approach that adapts to the size and complexity of businesses, and
- the distribution of more information to consumers about compliance and enforcement activities.
The CFIA
is planning outreach activities on this proposed model with
its inspectors, consumer associations, industry, and federal, provincial
and territorial government counterparts in the fall. The model will
continue to be developed based on feedback that the agency receives.
For more information on the CFIA’s proposed approach to strengthening food inspection or to provide your comments, visit the CFIA website.
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