The CFIA:
Who We Are and What We Do
March 2014
Presented by: Aline Dimitri
Presented at: McGill University
Who we are
2
The CFIA
 The largest science-based regulatory agency in
Canada
 Responsible for delivering all federally-mandated
programs for food inspection, plant and animal
health, and consumer protection as it relates to
food
3
Our Vision and Mission
Our vision is to excel as a science-based regulator,
trusted and respected by Canadians and the
international community.
We are dedicated to safeguarding food, animals and
plants, which enhances the health and well-being of
Canada’s people, environment and economy.
4
Our People
We have more than
7000 dedicated and
highly trained
professionals working
across Canada.
The CFIA is organized
into four operational
Areas (Atlantic,
Quebec, Ontario and
Western):
• 18 regional offices
• 185 field offices
(including border
points of entry)
• 408 offices in nongovernment
establishments, such
as processing facilities
The Agency also has
12 laboratories and
research facilities.
5
What we do
6
The CFIA’s Legislative Authority
The CFIA administers or enforces 13 acts and 42 sets
of regulations:
• Food and Drugs Act*
• Seeds Act
• Fish Inspection Act
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative
• Health of Animals Act
Monetary Penalties Act
• Meat Inspection Act
• Canada Agricultural Products Act
• Plant Breeders’ Rights Act
• Canadian Food Inspection
• Plant Protection Act
• Fertilizers Act
• Feeds Act
Agency Act
• Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act*
*As it relates to food
And as of November 2012, the Safe Food for
Canadians Act
7
CFIA’s Operating Environment
The CFIA operates in a rapidly evolving environment
shaped by:
 globalization
 changing demographics
 consumer preferences
 complex trading environments
 evolving science and technology
 impacts of climate change
8
Managing Food Safety Risks
The CFIA:
 enforces food safety and nutritional quality
requirements of food sold in Canada*
 verifies industry compliance with federal acts and
regulations
 operates an emergency response system
• The CFIA manages about 350 food recalls each
year.
 provides outreach to Canadians on food safety
*policies and standards are set by Health Canada
9
Protecting Canada’s Plants
The CFIA:
 inspects and surveys for plant pests and diseases
 imposes quarantines and other control measures for
plant pests and diseases
 undertakes eradication activities where appropriate
 verifies fertilizers and supplements for safety,
efficacy, and accurate representation in the
marketplace
10
Controlling Transmission of Animal
Diseases to Humans
The CFIA mitigates zoonotic diseases (diseases that
can be transmitted between animals and humans,
such as BSE and avian influenza). It does this
through:
 prevention: risk reduction, disease surveillance
 preparedness: effective policies, procedures and
plans
 response: actions taken immediately before, during
or directly after disease emergence and/or spread
 recovery: efforts to repair and restore
11
Protecting Canada’s Animal Resource
Base
The CFIA:
 verifies livestock feeds for safety, efficacy and
appropriate labelling
 uses internationally-accepted disease control
methods when outbreaks occur
 monitors livestock identification requirements at
livestock markets
 verifies humane transportation and slaughter
12
Regulating Biotechnology
 Products derived through biotechnology that the CFIA
regulates include:
•
•
•
•
plants with novel traits
novel livestock feeds
novel supplements
veterinary biologics
 The CFIA regulates biotechnology-derived products and
conducts assessments for efficacy and safety for
animals, the environment and human handling.
13
How we carry out our mandate
14
Maintaining an Effective Regulatory
Base
To maintain an effective and transparent system that
is based on rules, risk assessment and science, the
CFIA:
 develops and updates acts and regulations
 leads or participates in domestic and international
agreements and arrangements
 consults with other levels of government,
consumers, industry, academia and other
stakeholders
15
Understanding and Managing Risk
 Corporate risk profile (CRP)
• a structured snapshot of the risks that may
prevent the Agency from reaching its objectives
 Integrated risk management
• risk management policy that is integrated into all
CFIA operational and functional units’ policy,
priority setting, planning, resourcing, delivery,
review and reporting activities
16
Excelling as a Science-Based Regulator
Science is an integral part of CFIA business through:
 doing laboratory analyses, diagnostics and related
services
 developing methodologies to deliver its services
 providing risk assessments, foresight and
scientific advice
 conducting research in support of all of the above
 providing oversight of third party delivery of
laboratory services
17
Certifying Exports and Controlling
Imports
The CFIA:
 certifies food, plants, animals (and their products)
that are exported around the world
 controls the importation of animals, their genetics,
and animal products
 inspects and assesses imports of plants, plant
products and soil
 sets policies and regulations for the import of food,
agricultural inputs and agricultural products
(enforced by the Canada Border Services Agency)
18
Protecting Consumers and the Marketplace
from Unfair Practices
For example, the CFIA:
 enforces standards for food labelling
 tests and inspects seeds to verify compliance with the
Seeds Act relating to trueness to type, purity,
germination, quality and disease
 verifies compliance with the Fertilizers Act relating to
the efficacy of fertilizers and supplements
 monitors fresh produce for safety and
wholesomeness, compliance with grade, packaging
and labelling requirements, and marketing to avoid
marketplace deception
19
Strong Partnerships
The success of Canada’s food safety system depends on
working closely with:
 other federal government departments and agencies
 provinces, territories and municipalities
 international governments
 consumers
 industry
 academia
20
Meeting the challenge of the future
21
Change Agenda
• To shift to a more consistent and risk-based
approach to the delivery of programs.
• Four strategic areas of focus:
• stronger, more consistent rules;
• more effective inspection;
• stronger commitment to service; and
• more information for stakeholders.
22
Legislative and Regulatory
Modernization
 Safe Food for Canadians Act
 Compliance promotion
(completed)
(consultation)
 Food labelling modernization
(consultation)
 Food regulatory framework modernization
 Outcomes-based regulation
(consultation)
(consultation)
 Proposed imported food sector product regulations
(consultation)
 Incorporation by Reference
(consultation)
23
Safe Food for Canadians Act
To protect Canadian families from potentially unsafe food
• Consolidates the authorities of the Fish Inspection Act,
the Canada Agricultural Products Act, the Meat
Inspection Act, and the food provisions of the Consumer
Packaging and Labelling Act.
• The Act focuses on:
 Improved food safety oversight to better protect
consumers,
 Streamlined and strengthened legislative authorities,
and
 Enhanced international market opportunities for
Canadian industry.
24
Safe Food for Canadians Act (c’td)
To protect Canadian families from potentially unsafe food
 Improved food safety oversight to better protect
consumers
• New prohibitions against food commodity tampering, deceptive
practices and hoaxes
• Strengthened food traceability
• Improved import controls
 Streamlined and strengthened legislative authorities
• Modernization and simplification of existing food safety legislation
• Aligned inspection and enforcement powers
 Enhanced international market opportunities for
Canadian industry
• Authority to certify food commodities for export
• New review mechanism
25
Agricultural Growth Bill
• To modernize and strengthen federal agriculture
legislation, support innovation in the Canadian
agriculture industry and enhance global market
opportunities
• CFIA Acts:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Plant Breeders' Rights Act (PBR Act)
Feeds Act
Fertilizers Act
Seeds Act
Health of Animals Act
Plant Protection Act
Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act
26
Agricultural Growth Bill (ct’d)
• Encourage innovation and research in Canada's
agricultural sector.
• Strengthening intellectual property rights for plant varieties in
Canada under the PBR Act to:
• Expanding the authorities to include international scientific
research when approving new agricultural products
• Reduce red tape
•
•
Modernizing business processes - more efficient and effective
processes and increase consistency
Strengthening inspector authorities – tools and turn at border
• Enhancing global market opportunities
•
Enhance trade and grow Canada's economy – access to
international plant variety, IP environment, licensing and
registration of fertilizer and feed operators facilities
27
Inspection Modernization
• A more comprehensive approach, single and
consistent inspection approach that could be applied
to all regulated food, whether imported, exported or
produced domestically
• This approach
 clearly-defines responsibilities for regulated
parties and the CFIA
 provides consistent oversight for all food sectors
subject to regulations enforced by the CFIA
 expands the use of science and inspection data to
help focus resources on areas with the greatest
risk
 adapts inspection to focus on verifying the
effectiveness of a regulated parties’ controls for
achieving safe and compliant food
28
Inspection Modernization:
Key elements
• Licensing of companies with preventive control
•
•
•
•
plans.
CFIA oversight based on the level of risk for both
domestic- and imported-food sectors.
Inspection using a systems approach and a
performance based requirements
Compliance and enforcement: one common
compliance and enforcement strategy.
System performance: mechanisms to evaluate the
CFIA’s inspection program for consistency, quality of
design and performance.
29
30
Statement of Rights and Service for
Producers, Consumers and Other
Stakeholders
• Offer stakeholders and CFIA staff a clear, plain
language explanation of the CFIA’s commitment to
 transparent decision making;
 accessible and timely information;
 fair, respectful and unbiased interactions with
stakeholders; and
 responsiveness and continuous improvement.
• The statement and guides will
 allow stakeholders to become more familiar with
the CFIA’s roles and responsibilities
 clarify what stakeholders can expect when dealing
with the CFIA
 reference the CFIA’s expectations of regulated
parties
• Complaints and Appeals Office
31
Questions?
32
33