Food industry reaction to the introduction of sweeping new food safety legislation was largely positive, although the union representing federal food inspectors directed some showers at the parade.
On June 7, the federal government introduced the Safe Food for Canadians Act that widens federal powers over food industry safety regulation, consolidates acts, strengthens controls over imported food and gives the federal agriculture minister the power to impose traceability requirements on the industry if necessary.
“It sounds like a pretty good step forward,” said Canadian Federation of Agriculture president Ron Bonnett.
Read Also
Agriculture ministers agree to AgriStability changes
federal government proposed several months ago to increase the compensation rate from 80 to 90 per cent and double the maximum payment from $3 million to $6 million
The Canadian Meat Council, poultry and egg processors said they welcome a government commitment for better and more predictable food inspection and safety rules.
The CMC will work “to ensure that the new act sets up an internationally competitive regulatory framework that enables and encourages the Canadian meat industry to achieve the highest levels of food safety,” council executive director Jim Laws said in a June 8 statement.
The lobby for food and beverage manufacturers said consolidation of four food inspection acts into one and modernizing food safety rules is good for the industry and for Canada’s reputation as an international food supplier.
“The (legislation) will definitely further enhance Canada’s reputation as global food safety leaders,” Food and Consumer Products of Canada president Nancy Croitoru said in a FCPC statement.
Even the usually critical agriculture union of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, representing federal food inspectors, said the legislation is “a good start.”
But union president Bob Kingston quickly warned that a proposal in the bill to give companies the right to appeal Canadian Food Inspection Agency decisions could be a Trojan horse that will allow industry to undermine the CFIA.
And he said the government must hire more food inspectors if it wants better food inspection. Instead, he said the government plans to lay off inspectors.
