Presented by: Daniel Miller
Executive Director, Food Labelling and
Claims Directorate

• To provide you with an overview of the Food Labelling
Modernization (FLM) initiative, specifically the scope, objectives,
engagement strategy, schedule, and next steps, as it relates to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) change agenda
• To encourage your participation in this initiative and seek your consideration on:
– Roles and responsibilities
– Regulations
– Policy and Program Development
– Service Delivery
– 2

• The CFIA has embarked on a change and modernization agenda, propelled by the new Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA), with a focus on: stronger food safety rules; more effective inspection; commitment to service; and more information for consumers.
– 3
• The SFCA is the cornerstone of CFIA’s sweeping change agenda, that will help bring about legislative change aimed at promoting safer food and better protection to optimize the health and safety of Canadians and make
Canadian businesses more competitive globally. Key change agenda initiatives include:
– Inspection Modernization;
– Food Regulatory Modernization;
– Food Safety Action Plan’s Import Licensing;
– Compliance Promotion; and
– Food Labelling Modernization

At the federal government level, the responsibility for food labelling requirements is shared between:
– 4
Health Canada
- Establishes policies, regulations and standards relating to the health, safety and nutritional quality of food sold in Canada.
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- Enforces the policies and regulations that are developed by
Health Canada.
- Administers and enforces nonhealth and safety policies and regulations.

As it relates to voluntary claims:
• The CFIA has seen increased usage of voluntary non-health and safety claims by industry
• The CFIA is also being asked to respond more and more to company-to-company labelling complaints in this area
• The CFIA has seen focused media attention on these types of claims, which has increased consumers’ awareness and their expectations of companies, the industry and the CFIA
• Consumers are also expecting more transparency and action from both industry and government
• The CFIA recognizes that in this area there are diverse views on the respective roles of consumers, industry and government
• A number of countries are exploring different ways of responding to these types of non-health and safety claims and redefining the roles and responsibilities of consumers, industry and government (see drivers in Annex 1)
– 5

• 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
– Will not include food labelling activities that fall under the mandate of other government departments (for example: Health Canada)
– 6

FLM Vision: to design an innovative and modern food labelling system, trusted and respected by Canadians and the international community.
Roles and Responsibilities
Regulations
Policy and Program Development
Improve compliance by effectively balancing the roles and responsibilities between consumers, industry, and government
Better protect consumers and support industry innovation by strengthening the regulatory framework , while considering global standards and approaches.
Improve compliance by developing effective policies and programs; that are based on risk; facilitate partnerships and support consistency.
– 7
Service Delivery
Improve service delivery by applying standardized inspection approaches based on risk and prevention, and supported by appropriate services and tools.

Objective:
• Identify and analyze issues that will lead to development of recommendations for a more modern and innovative food labelling system
– 8
Strategy:
• 2-phased consultation approach focusing on consumers, industry, government—aiming to achieve a balanced perspective
• First phase to focus on issues identification
• Second phase will engage on potential recommendations for modern and innovative food labelling system
• Will use various approaches to engagement: discussion paper, online questionnaire, face-to-face listening sessions

Safe Food For
Canadians Act
Issues Gathered &
Engagement
Completed
Stage 1:
Launch, Engage and Gather Issues 1
Approval of Draft
Recommendations
Stage 2:
Analyse Data and
Draft
Recommendations
2
Completed
Engagement
Stage 3:
Engage on Draft
Recommendations
& Analyse Data
3
Stage 4:
Finalize Report on
Recommendations
& Implementation
Proposal
June- December 2013 January - May 2014 June – November 2014 December 2014 – June 2015
– 9

• Continue to encourage stakeholders to participate in the Food Labelling
Modernization Online Consultation
– Closes August 30, 2013
– http://inspection.gc.ca/food/labelling/labelling-modernizationinitiative/consultations/questionnaire/eng/1371096847742/1371096850664
• Communicate with stakeholders (for example: via e-mail and the FLM webpage about upcoming engagement opportunities)
– FLM webpage: http://inspection.gc.ca/food/labelling/labelling-modernizationinitiative/eng/1370111174659/1370111346666
• Continue to align with other CFIA Change Agenda initiatives (for example:
Regulator Modernization, Importer Licencing) to co-ordinate engagement and share information
– 10

Food Labelling Continuum and FLM Areas of Focus:
Food for Thought
All comes under section 5.1 of the Food and Drugs Act
Re: False and Misleading
Risk to Health and Safety
e.g. Allergens
Higher
Risk
Roles,
Responsibilities &
Partnerships
Program
Development
e.g. low fat, low sodium
e.g. highlighted ingredients
Regulations
Service Delivery e.g. Inspection
(non-health and safety related) e.g. natural
Policy
Development
Lower
Risk
– 11

• By email: CFIA-Modernisation-ACIA@inspection.gc.ca
• By mail:
Strategic Partnerships Division
1400 Merivale Road, Tower 1
Floor 6, suite 218
Ottawa, ON K1A 0Y9
Canada
Attn: Food labelling modernization
• By fax: 613-773-5606
• http://www.inspection.gc.ca/food/labelling/labelling-modernizationinitiative/eng/1370111174659/1370111346666
– 12

Consumers – Drivers
Changes in consumer demand
• Consumers are becoming more aware and knowledgeable about labels on products, to ensure that products meet their needs (e.g. health and safety; getting best value for money)
• Higher consumer expectations and increased media attention around labelling requires improved transparency and accountability
Industry – Drivers
Global supply chains have significantly changed the way in which products are processed, produced, packaged and sold
• Manufacturers are finding more innovative and creative ways to communicate their products to consumers
• Food processing industry has become more competitive to meet consumers’ needs
Consumer – Issues
• Safety
• Public health
• Marketplace Deception
• Country of Origin
• Quality
• Legibility and consistency of information
• Knowledge of roles and responsibilities of government and industry
Industry – Issues
• Level playing field for domestic and imported products
• Market access
• Ability to innovate
• Modernized regulations to keep up with ingredients and technology
• Consistency of policy interpretation and enforcement
• Timeliness and coordination
• Common names
– 13

– It will include all foods, as well as CFIA food labelling frameworks and regulatory, program design and delivery systems.
Examples:
In Focus
All food – including imported, domestic, retail; consumer packaged or bulk, further manufacturing

– 14
Roles
Responsibilities & Partnerships
In Focus
Examining the roles and responsibilities that consumers, industry and government play in food labelling within the CFIA’s mandate


Regulations
In Focus
Labelling regulations under CFIA’s responsibility
‐ list of ingredients - placement of information - standards of identity
‐ ingredient class names grade marks - net quantity
‐ best before date common name - country of origin marking
‐ type size - dealer name and address
Administering labelling requirements for imported and domestic products that fall under CFIA responsibility in the following legislation:
- Food and Drugs Act /Food and Drug Regulations
-
Canada Agricultural Products Act and its regulations
- Fish Inspection Act /Fish Inspection Regulations - Meat Inspection Act /Meat Inspection Regulations
- Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act/Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations
Policy and Program Development
In Focus
Examining policies and guidelines, such as local, that are within the mandate of the CFIA, and that:
‐ no longer respond to industry and consumer needs,
‐ contain gaps, or
‐ are not harmonized with international standards or agreements
Examining CFIA’s process for developing and delivering policies, programs and frameworks.




– 15

In Focus
Examining inspection activities and tools related to labelling and advertising of food under the responsibility of the CFIA
‐ inspection approach and strategy
‐ training materials
‐ IM/IT tools
‐ guidance materials (for example: Guide to Food Labelling and Advertising, Nutrition
Labelling Toolkit)
‐ labelling website information
Enforcing labelling requirements for imported and domestic products as they pertain to:
Food and Drugs Act /Food and Drug Regulations
Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act/Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations
Fish Inspection Act /Fish Inspection Regulations
Meat Inspection Act /Meat Inspection Regulations
Canada Agricultural Products Act and its regulations


– 16

Out of Focus:
– Does not include food labelling activities that fall under the mandate of other government departments (such as Health Canada).
Examples:
Out of Focus
Food for export/ sale outside of Canada

Roles, Responsibilities & Partnerships
Out of Focus
Transferring legislated responsibilities to other government departments

– 17

Regulations
Out of Focus
Examining labelling regulations under Health Canada’s responsibility
‐ nutrition labelling and health claims requirements food additives
‐ allergen labelling requirements fortification
‐ genetically modified foods , novel foods foods for special dietary use
‐ food safety related labelling requirements aspartame and sugar alcohols
Labelling regulations under other government department’s responsibility, for example:
‐ Industry Canada - Office of the Official Languages
‐ Competition Bureau - Measurement Canada
Examining recently developed or revised labelling regulations and policies under CFIA’s responsibility, for example:
‐ Organic Products Regulations - icewine standard
‐ cheese regulatory amendments - Guidelines on Product of Canada
Examining labelling regulatory changes under CFIA’s responsibility that would make them inconsistent with international standards such as the Codex General Standard for the
Labelling of Prepackaged Foods




– 18

Regulations Continued
Out of Focus
Examining regulations and policies under CFIA responsibility that are not related to labelling of food, for example:
‐ animal and plant health
‐ microbiological standards
‐ agricultural inputs (for example: feed, fertilizers)
Examining labeling regulations and policies under provincial and territorial responsibility, for example
‐ provincial standards and requirement
‐ Nova Scotia Liquor Standards Corporation
‐ Ontario Milk Act
Requirements for bilingual labelling
Metrification in relation to net quantity declaration




– 19

Policy and Program Development
Out of Focus
Examining policies and guidelines that are outside the mandate of the CFIA
Service Delivery
Out of Focus
Examining inspection activities and tools under CFIA responsibility that are not related to labelling of food, such as related to:
‐ animal and plant health
‐ microbiological standards
‐ agricultural inputs (for example: feed, fertilizers)
Labelling Recipe and Registration Unit



– 20