The CFIA: Who We Are and What We Do

March 2014Presented by: Aline Dimitri

Presented at: McGill University

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Who we are

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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

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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.

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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 non-government establishments, such as processing facilities

The Agency also has 12 laboratories and research facilities.

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What we do

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The CFIA’s Legislative Authority

The CFIA administers or enforces 13 acts and 42 sets of regulations:

• Food and Drugs Act*• Fish Inspection Act

• Health of Animals Act

• Meat Inspection Act

• Plant Breeders’ Rights Act

• Plant Protection Act

• Fertilizers Act

• Feeds Act *As it relates to food

And as of November 2012, the Safe Food for Canadians Act

• Seeds Act

• Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act

• Canada Agricultural Products Act

• Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act

• Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act*

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.

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How we carry out our mandate

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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

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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

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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Meeting the challenge of the future

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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.

Legislative and Regulatory Modernization

Safe Food for Canadians Act (completed)

Compliance promotion (consultation)

Food labelling modernization (consultation)

Food regulatory framework modernization (consultation)

Outcomes-based regulation (consultation)

Proposed imported food sector product regulations (consultation)

Incorporation by Reference (consultation)

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Safe Food for Canadians ActTo 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.

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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

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

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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

 

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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 approachclearly-defines responsibilities for regulated

parties and the CFIAprovides 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

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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.

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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 totransparent decision making;accessible and timely information;fair, respectful and unbiased interactions with

stakeholders; andresponsiveness and continuous improvement.

• The statement and guides willallow stakeholders to become more familiar

with the CFIA’s roles and responsibilitiesclarify what stakeholders can expect when

dealing with the CFIAreference the CFIA’s expectations of regulated

parties

• Complaints and Appeals Office

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Questions?

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