A modernized food safety act that takes the country a step closer to a national standard for food inspection was tabled in the House of Commons April 22.
The Canada Food Safety and Inspection Act consolidates existing pieces of legislation dealing with meat and fish inspection, food and drugs, seeds, fertilizer, feed, consumer packaging and labeling, plant protection and health of animals.
“It is the most dramatic change in food inspection legislation since Confederation,” said Ron Doering, head of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency during a recent food safety conference in Banff, Alta.
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There are now 26 inspection programs and some legislation has not been reviewed in the last 30 years.
The act should provide a simplified system for food inspectors and give them more authority to ensure there is compliance, said Doering.
For most companies, it will be business as usual.
Industry consultations were held last year and when the legislation becomes law, a second round of meetings will draw up regulations.
Updated food safety law is necessary so Canada can work with ease in the international trade arena and handle electronic commerce, said agency official Diana Casey-Adams.
In addition, food inspection has changed from a visual appraisal to a system that measures risk to health and safety. The CFIA maintains its partnership with Health Canada, which sets standards for food safety while the agency enforces the rules.
The food inspection system went through a revolution when the food agency was created in 1997. The merger brought all commodities under one umbrella and allows Health Canada and the CFIA to deal with the entire food chain including the emerging issue of biotechnology and genetically modified foods.
The CFIA website is www.cfia.acia.agr.ca. Avac in Alberta also maintains a site at http://avanet.axia.com.
