9 April 2008

Proposed amendments to the Food and Drugs Act (FDA)

The following news release was issued by the CFIA on 8 April. It is related to the news release issued yesterday by the Prime Minister’s office, and found on the CSCB reference system at http://www.cscb.ca/050/rs_prev_e.cfm?ID=17561 .

While our current food safety system has served us well, we must continue to seek ways of improving our system to better respond to risks in this complex global marketplace. On April 8, 2008, the government tabled amendments to the Food and Drugs Act. Under this proposed legislation, existing food safety systems will be modernized and new tools will be available to support the Food and Consumer Safety Action plan, which is part of the government’s commitment to promoting and enforcing food safety standards. Some highlights of the amendments are outlined below.

Amendments to the Food and Drugs Act (FDA)

The Bill, (An Act to Amend the Food and Drugs Act and to make consequential amendments to other Acts), modernizes compliance and enforcement tools available to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

Better position Canada to meet current and future challenges, protect consumers and support the competitiveness of Canada’s food sector;

Streamline and provide more consistent regulatory tools across all food sectors; and

Update the FDA to keep pace in a global economy and with the legislative changes of Canada’s trading partners.

New inspection and enforcement powers and authorities

The proposed FDA amendments will introduce new inspection and enforcement powers that will enhance the safety of Canada’s food supply. They will provide new authorities to better enable Canada’s food inspectors to appropriately monitor food and take action when warranted by allowing the holding and testing of product without seizure and detention, the ability to require removal of unlawful imports and the use of telewarrants.

Improved enforcement tools at points of entry

The enhanced enforcement and inspection authorities contained in the proposed amendments will assist both the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and CFIA in better managing food safety issues at points of entry. These include the authority to stop imports of food; the power to hold and test products; the authority to license or register importers; the power to require importers to

establish systems to record the origin and destination of products; and an improved approach to sharing inf