The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is willing to concede to its critics that some of its regulations may be outdated and burdensome for industry.
But Kris Stolarik, executive director of the CFIA’s corporate secretariat, also says the critics should look at why the regulations are there and which agency is responsible for them.
There often is a good reason and CFIA often is blamed for some other agency’s regulation.
She was commenting after a June 15 meeting with officials from the Canadian Federation of Independent Business that reported many of its members are critical of the amount of time and expense imposed on them by CFIA regulations, inspections and demands.
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“Our regulations aren’t perfect,” Stolarik said in an interview June 18. “Are there some crazy ones out there on the books? Maybe and we’re willing to look for them, correct them, take them off the books, make them smarter.”
She also noted many of the agriculture-related CFIB members are connected to the livestock, poultry and feed businesses.
“If you look at the history of what has happened in the last couple of years, it’s been avian influenza, BSE and so yes, those issues produced new regulations and tough enforcement and they probably have impacted on everyone,” said the CFIA executive.
But it is the job of the CFIA to write and enforce regulations aimed at protecting the health of Canada’s food system and population.
