Safe Food for Canadians Act: Legislative and Regulatory Food Safety Modernization in Canada

Transcription

1 Safe Food for Canadians Act: Legislative and Regulatory Food Safety Modernization in Canada April 10, 2014

2 Presentation Overview Operating Environment Overview of Legislative and Regulatory developments and modernization Discussion 2

3 Canada s Food Safety System: A Shared Responsibility Government Federal, Provincial and Territorial (P/T), Municipal: All levels of Government are able to develop food safety legislation and regulations Industry farmers, food manufacturers, food distributors, food service establishments and retailers Consumers 3

4 Food Safety: Key Federal Organizations Food Safety Roles 4

5 5 Canadian Food Safety: Key Federal Accountabilities On-farm Food Safety Policy & Standards Surveillance & Early Warning Education & Outreach Inspection & Enforcement Public Health Surveillance AAFC HC CFIA PHAC Contributes to research and development of on farm food safety programs Establishes food safety policy and standards Assesses the effectiveness of CFIA s food safety activities Conducts health risk assessments in support of food safety investigations Informs Canadians about potential risks to their Health Designs and delivers federal food inspection programs Monitors industry s compliance with the Acts and Regulations Undertakes enforcement action as necessary Conducts food safety investigations & food recalls Public health surveillance Leads foodborne illness outbreak investigations with P/T public health officials

6 6 The Canadian Food Inspection Agency Our Vision: To excel as a science-based regulator, trusted and respected by Canadians and the international community. Our Mission: Dedicated to safeguarding food, animals and plants, which enhances the health and well-being of Canada s people, environment and economy.

7 7 The CFIA is now in the health portfolio The CFIA originally reported to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri- Food, and consulted with the Minister of Health on food safety issues In October 2013, it was announced that the CFIA will report to the Minister of Health. As a result, the Minister of Health is now directly responsible for all food safety activities The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food remains responsible for the CFIA's non-food safety agricultural activities, including economic and trade issues, as well as important animal health and plant protection work

8 8 We are in a dynamic global food environment The environment in which we operate is continually evolving and is becoming increasingly complex Globalization and industry consolidation Shifting consumer landscape aging population and increasing expectations Evolving production and processing technologies Emerging pathogens and diseases Increased knowledge of risk and systems-based approaches Advances in science and technology Modernization initiatives of trading partners As a result, Canada is moving to strengthen its world class food safety system

9 9 Canada s Food Legislative and Regulatory Modernization Agenda 1. Proposed Imported Food Sector Product Regulations (IFSPR) Purpose: Enhanced management of food safety issues and incidents Greater awareness and oversight of the sector Increased consumer trust in safety of Canadian food supply First stage of the CFIA s food regulatory modernization agenda 2. Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA) Provides legislative base to simplify and consolidate inspection regulations with common requirements across commodities. 3. Food Labelling Modernization (FLM) The objective of the FLM initiative is to develop a more modern and innovative food labelling system within the context of CFIA s mandate and aligns with the new SFCA.

10 10 1. Proposed Requirements IFSPR Importers will need to: Hold a licence - electronic application; cost $263 for two years duration Maintain a written recall procedure and implement it if necessary Maintain food safety records, including product, traceability, complaint and recall Benefits Greater awareness of food safety issues and hazards, control measures Improved ability to quickly advise CFIA of potentially unsafe food Improved access to current information from CFIA about food safety issues Better alignment with international best practices Aligned with approach of Canada s key trading partners (US, EU, Australia, New Zealand) Lays the groundwork for the new Inspection Model; Safe Food for Canadians Action Plan Information to Support Importers Guidance documents, tools and templates Licence application and technical support Updates and access to supporting information through the CFIA website

11 11 2. Safe Food for Canadians Act The Act consolidates three CFIA inspection statutes Meat Inspection Act, Fish Inspection Act, and Canada Agricultural Products Act and food provisions of Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act... Meat Inspection Act (1) Fish Inspection Act (1) Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act (1) Canadian Agricultural Products Act (10) Applies to dairy, egg, fruit, vegetable, maple and honey products marketed through import, export and interprovincial trade With a single set of food inspection regulations that apply to all food imported, exported and prepared for inter-provincial trade Meat Inspection Act (1) Fish Inspection Act (1) Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act (1) Canadian Agricultural Products Act (10) Applies to dairy, egg, fruit, vegetable, maple and honey products marketed through import, export and interprovincial trade

12 12 Safe Food for Canadians Act Proposed Regulations Proposed regulations will enable a science and risk-based approach to focus on prevention and control of potential hazards while being robust and responsive to emerging issues Regulations will include: Horizontal provisions (e.g licensing, preventive controls, traceability, recordkeeping); Commodity specific food safety and consumer protection requirements (e.g. slaughter provisions, standards of identity, grades, container sizes, inspection marks, labelling); Organics Regulations will no longer be stand-alone - will continue as section of regulations under SFCA; No substantive changes anticipated, but adding aquaculture standard; and Complementary regulations regarding disclosure of information and administrative monetary penalties

13 13 Horizontal Food Safety Requirements Licensing requirements Everyone who imports, prepares, manufactures or packages food for inter-provincial trade will require a licence (prescribed conditions for export licence) Most licence holders will require a preventive control plan that demonstrates how requirements are being met Ability to suspend and cancel licenses Food Safety and Preventive Controls Move, where possible, from prescriptive commodity-specific rules to outcome-based provisions that reflect CODEX standards, including HACCP and good manufacturing practices will provide flexibility to introduce new technologies and processes that could enhance safety and/or reduce costs New produce safety requirements (e.g. soil, water; consistent with CanadaGap would apply to farms who ship product directly to market in another province or to another country to be consumed raw Most licence holders will require a preventive control plan that demonstrates how requirements are being met

14 14 Horizontal Food Safety Requirements Food Safety and Preventive Controls - Elements Food safety requirements of the proposed SFCR are outlined under Element 1 to 7. Requirements would be imposed on specified regulated parties and would constitute baseline food safety requirements to be met during the manufacturing, preparing, storing, packaging and labelling of a food commodity, including: 1) Products and processes; 2) Sanitation, pest control and sanitizers, and detergents and other chemical agents; 3) Hygiene and competencies; 4) Equipment to be used in an establishment; 5) Physical structure and maintenance of the establishment; 6) Receiving, transportation and storage; 7) Investigation and notification, complaints procedure and recall procedure

15 15 Horizontal Food Safety Requirements Traceability and Record Keeping Rapid identification of origin and movement of a food commodity is essential for protecting consumers during a food recall Requirements for maintaining records One step forward, one step backwards (Codex standard), to every stage of food supply chain under federal jurisdiction required records would include name and address of supplier/customer; description of products; date of transaction, contact information records to be provided to CFIA immediately upon request in an un-encrypted format that can be imported into and manipulated by standard commercial software Traceability requirements will apply to inter-provincial and import trade only. During consultations industry expressed concern that requirements would not apply to food traded within provinces -- food initially prepared for intra-provincial trade may end up in inter-provincially prepared product CFIA can handle obtaining information from intra-provincial facilities when required - mandating traceability requirements overly burdensome for food safety benefits realized

16 Responsibilities for Modernizing Food Labelling At the federal government level, the responsibility for food labelling requirements is shared between: Health Canada Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Establishes policies, regulations and standards relating to the health, safety and nutritional quality of food sold in Canada. - Enforces the policies and regulations that are developed by Health Canada. - Administers and enforces nonhealth and safety policies and regulations.

17 FLM Objectives and Focus Objectives: Develop a modern and innovative food labelling system within the context of CFIA s priorities and vision and which aligns with the new Safe Food for Canadian s Act and that Provides a better understanding of roles and responsibilities and continuous improvement as it relates to partnerships with other government departments such as Health Canada and with consumers and industry Appropriately responds to consumer and industry needs around food labelling within CFIA s mandate Promotes smarter regulations and risk-based oversight by Government Improves service delivery such as in relation to inquiries and availability of labelling information and tools Focus: Will include all foods, as well as the review of CFIA food labelling frameworks and regulatory, program design and delivery systems Health Canada and CFIA will actively co-ordinate their efforts to modernize food labelling

18 Vision: to design an innovative and modern food labelling system, trusted and respected by Canadians and the international community. Area of Focus Roles and Responsibilities Regulations Policy and Program Development Service Delivery Outcomes Stronger food safety system through improved collaboration and communication between consumers, industry, and government; and more information for consumers Stronger food safety and labelling rules, for example by modernizing compositional standards; improving the way that nutrition information is presented on labels; reducing regulatory red tape; and strengthening international market opportunities Improved food safety policies and programs that are based on risk, to promote and facilitate partnerships, and support consistency to enhance compliance Renewed commitment to service and improved food safety oversight through more effective inspection, better training and more modern tools

19 Integrated Agency Inspection Model 9 Redress of Complaints and Appeals 1 Risk Assessment 8 Enforcement System Performance CFIA Oversight 2 Program Management 7 Control and Compliance * Regulatory Response Inspectors System Assessment Officers Permissions 3 Licensing Inspection 6 Imports 5 Exports 4 Field Operations Foundational Elements A* Human Resources (Framework) B Organizational Design C Training D* Culture & Integrity E Communication, Stakeholder Engagement and Transparency F* Information Management & Technology G Legislative and Regulatory Framework H Business Architecture I System Performance Management * Subject to Consultation on iaim.

20 20 Outcomes Canada s Modernization Agenda A food safety system capable of continuous improvement based on science, global trends and best practices and be: able to deliver better protection from food safety risks for Canadians; focused on science-based and risk-based prevention and control of potential hazards as well as robust and responsive; transparent so consumers can play their role and so industry understands obligations; internationally consistent and harmonized wherever possible; enabled with best available skills tools and technology to efficiently provide regulatory services to industry; and outcome-based whenever possible and assessed regularly to verify that outcomes are achieved and that systems are functioning well

21 21 Next Steps and Coming into Force Spring 2014 Pre-publication of the IFSPR in Canada Gazette, Part I, Draft content of transformational SFCA food inspection regulations made available Fall 2014 IFSPR Coming into Force IFSPR, interim compliance and promotion period 1 year Mid-2015 Target for new Food Inspection Regulations to Come into Force At this time the IFSPR would be repealed and replaced by the SFCA regulations

22 22 Feedback 22 By By mail: Strategic Partnerships Division 1400 Merivale Road, Tower 1 Floor 6, suite 218 Ottawa, ON K1A 0Y9 Canada Attn: regulatory framework By fax:

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