Transcript Slide 1
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency: Challenges and Outlook Aline Dimitri Senior Advisor March 19, 2009 © 2007 Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada (Canadian Food Inspection Agency), all rights reserved. Use without permission is prohibited. CFIA Overview 2 Who we are The CFIA is mandated to safeguard Canada’s food supply and the plants and animals upon which safe and high-quality food depends. 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 goals • Protect Canadians from preventable health risks • Protect consumers through a fair and effective food, animal and plant regulatory regime that supports competitive domestic and international markets • Sustain the plant and animal resource base • Contribute to the security of Canada’s food supply and agricultural resource base • Provide sound agency management 5 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 • Encourages science-based risk management • Operates emergency response system • Approximately 350 food recalls are managed each year *policies and standards are set by Health Canada 6 Protecting consumers and the marketplace from unfair practices For example, the CFIA… • Enforces standards for food labelling • Verifies compliance with Seeds Act • Testing and inspection of seeds for trueness to type, purity, germination, quality and disease • Provides legal protection to plant breeders for new plant varieties for up to 18 years • Monitors fresh fruits and vegetables for safety and wholesomeness, compliance with grade, packaging and labelling requirements, and marketing to avoid marketplace deception 7 Certifying exports and controlling imports The CFIA… • Certifies food, plants, animals (and their products) that are exported around the world • Canada’s agricultural, forestry and agri-food exports are worth billions of dollars annually • Controls 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) 8 Protecting Canada’s crops and forests The CFIA… • Inspects and surveys for pests and disease • Imposes quarantines and other control measures 9 Protecting Canada’s livestock The CFIA… • Verifies livestock feeds • Uses internationally accepted disease control methods when outbreaks occur • Monitors livestock ID requirements at livestock markets • Verifies humane transportation and slaughter 10 Controlling transmission of animal diseases to humans The CFIA mitigates zoonotic diseases, e.g., BSE, rabies and avian influenza, through: • Prevention: risk reduction • 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 Regulating biotechnology The CFIA regulates biotechnology-derived products and conducts safety assessments for efficacy, and safety for animals, the environment and human handling. Products include: • novel plants • livestock feeds • fertilizers • veterinary biologics 12 Maintaining an effective regulatory base To maintain an effective and transparent system that is based on rules 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 and stakeholders 13 Strong partnerships Success of food safety system depends on working closely with: • • • • • • • • • • Provinces and Territories Municipalities Distributors/retailers Consumers International food experts (scientists) Growers/Producers Food processors Industry Academia Other federal government departments 14 The CFIA’s legislative authority The CFIA administers or enforces the following acts and their respective 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 Agency Act • Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act* • Feeds Act *As it relates to food 15 Policy Challenges 16 The world is changing….. • Growing impact of globalization & niche markets • Evolving science and new technologies • New products and processes • New and changing pathogens • Changing consumer demand and behaviour • Environmental changes 17 And the government is trying to respond through specific actions…. • Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan • Working with industries, provinces and territories to implement preventative food safety control measures along the food chain; • Putting in place tools to better identify importers, track imports and work with foreign authorities to verify the safety of foods at their country of origin; and • Increasing authority to monitor risks to Canadians and prevent unsafe products from entering the Canadian marketplace. • Product of Canada labelling • Came into effect on December 31, 2008 • Intended to help Canadians make informed choices about the products they are purchasing • “Product of Canada” vs. “Made in Canada” 18 And the government is trying to respond through specific actions…. • Growing Forward • New Agricultural Framework • Federal/Provincial/Territorial initiative • Includes: More investment in innovation; Action on key regulatory priorities; Environment and food safety programs; • Seeking international partnerships • Sharing of scientific knowledge for review of submissions 19 Example of success: Managing BSE • 2003: 1st case of BSE was discovered • All export markets were closed • Canada convened an international panel to identify measures to be put in place • Canada implemented all the recommendations in place • Clear and continuous communication plan • Work within the OIE • Recognition that a BSE-free country is no longer a reality • Change the country classification system to use a risk based approach • Canada has recovered over 35 markets and has a “BSE controlled risk status” 20 Policy Development & Regulatory Development - A lifecycle approach - 21 Stages of Policy Development 1. Identification of Issue or Problem 2. Identification of Objective(s) and Outcome(s) 3. Development of Policy Options and Recommendation 4. Implementation and Monitoring of Policy Decision 5. Evaluation of Policy Decision 22 Stages of Regulatory Development (Cabinet Directive on Streamlining of Regulations) Identifying & Assessing Public Policy Issues Setting Objectives and Expected Results Selecting, Designing & Assessing Regulatory Responses Consulting, Coordinating, Cooperating Evaluating & Reviewing Regulation Measuring & Reporting on Performance Planning for Implementatio n& Compliance Analyzing Impacts & Ensuring Benefits Justify Costs 23 Commitment to Canadians… Walk through “The Government of Canada is committed to protect and advance the public interest by working with Canadians and other governments to ensure that its regulatory activities result in the greatest overall benefit to present and future generations of Canadians.” Protect and advance the public interest Promote a fair and competitive market economy Make decisions based on evidence Require timeliness, policy coherence, and minimal duplication Create accessible, understandable and responsive regulation Advance efficiency and effectiveness 24 …includes consultation throughout the lifecycle… Open, meaningful and balanced Opportunities for interested and affected parties to participate should be offered at all stages of the lifecycle Walk through • What is the issue? • What should the policy objectives be? • How should the objectives be met? • Is our approach working, does it need to be reviewed? Provide feedback on the input received and how it was considered in the decision-making process 25 … and policies that are realized through a mix of instruments… Regulation is one of many instruments • EACSR noted that government uses regulation as a “first option” Greater emphasis on “instrument mix” Walk through • • • • Identify the appropriate points for intervention Identify the appropriate institutions and parties to be involved Develop a mix of instruments Demonstrate that the chosen response is linked to policy objectives, proportional, and will not unduly affect other areas Regulation should be chosen only after the full range of instruments has been analyzed • A mix can lead to better outcomes 26 … that can range from coercive to voluntary. Laws Legal Agreements; Contracts Fiscal Instruments Walk through Letters of Commitment / Intent MOUs Codes Standards Consultation Moral Suasion / Persuasion Formal “Command & Control” Voluntary Initiatives Promotion / Information Informal, Flexible/ Voluntary 27 28