The CBSA, together with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, has released the summary of a pilot project where a single importer has been allowed to import CFIA regulated low-risk food products under the CSA release option.
Key findings from the pilot include:
- The pilot confirmed a significant gap in how information, such as import transaction data containing detailed product descriptions, was exchanged, thereby affecting the CFIA's ability to effectively identify and track foods imported into Canada.
- Introducing import restrictions in the event of a food safety incident proved challenging in a CSA environment.
- The exercises revealed that the importer had processes in place to respond to, manage and mitigate food safety risks.
- The importer's processes and advanced IT systems proved to be effective during mock food safety incidents conducted through simulation exercises.
The pilot did determine that import transaction data can be received after foods are imported into Canada, provided the importer has the necessary processes in place to respond to, manage and mitigate risks in the event of a food safety incident.
CBSA and the CFIA have agreed to further evaluate whether other food importers would be able to participate successfully in the CSA Program while ensuring compliance with Government of Canada requirements.
The entire summary is available on the CFIA website.