This would include enhanced food safety requirements as well as an importer licensing initiative.
The consultation, which is available on the CFIA website and open for comments until 4 October 2010, is intended to assist in the development of the proposed regulations. The CFIA also wants to hear from stakeholders and the Canadian public at information and consultation sessions that will be taking place in Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax, Toronto and Vancouver.
The CFIA is proposing to add new regulations under the Canada Agricultural Products Act. The new regulations are intended to:
- strengthen the accountability of importers for the safety of food products,
- enhance the CFIA’s ability to communicate important food safety information, and
- increase consumer confidence in the safety of Canada’s food supply.
The CFIA recognises that the majority of today’s food manufacturers, processors, distributors, and importers provide Canadians with safe food. At the same time, there is a need to modernize and sharpen the focus of government inspection to protect Canadians. While our current food safety system has served us well, we must continue to seek ways of improving our system to better respond to risks in this complex global marketplace.
The CFIA will continue to update Canadians on these regulatory efforts once the consultation period has concluded. Please visit the CFIA website for more information and to register for one of the face-to-face information and consultation sessions.
