FOOD RECALLS:

MAKE A PLAN AND ACTION IT!
IMPORTERS' GUIDE

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. Introduction
   
2. Make a Plan
   • Overview
   • Recall Management Team
   • Complaint File
   • Recall Contact List - CFIA
   • Tracing of Products
   • Distribution Records and Distribution Record System
   • Recalled Product Records
   • Recall Procedures
   • Recall Effectiveness Procedures
   • Testing Your Recall Plan
   • 
     
3. Action Your Recall Plan: Steps to an Effective Recall
   • Introduction
   • Assemble Your Recall Management Team
   • Notify the CFIA
   • Identify All Products to be Recalled
   • Detain & Segregate Products to be Recalled
   • Prepare the Press Release
   • Prepare the Distribution List
   • Prepare and Distribute the Notice of Recall
   • Verify the Effectiveness of the Recall
   • Control of the Returned Product
   • Decide What to do with the Returned Product
   • Fix the Cause of the Recall
   • Common Problems with Recalls, Potential Impacts & Recommended Solutions
   • Appendix A: Press Release - Industry Template, Allergens
   • Appendix B: Notice of Recall - Template

   
   

4. General Reference Information on Recalls
   • Definitions
   • Recall Classifications

INTRODUCTION

What is a food recall?

Food manufacturers use many controls to make sure that the products they produce are safe. Sometimes, for many different reasons, a product may be manufactured and sold which may make some people ill or injure them, or is in violation of the legislation. When an unsafe or violative food product has left the control of the mIs it not a bit strong to say that a product unsafe or in violation must be removed from the market. Not all violation imply a recallanufacturer, it must be removed from the market. This process of removing the product is called a “recall”. If your firm has imported a product which is unsafe or violative and you have sold the product to someone else, you must recall the product. If you choose not to conduct a recall, the Minister of Agriculture may order you to conduct the recall under Section 19 of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act. This applies to all firms importing food products into Canada.

What is the goal of this guide?

Ask yourself these questions.

“If you needed to remove a product from the market right now, would you be able to do it?”

“Would you be able to remove the product quickly?”

“Would you be able to remove all of the product?”

The goal of this guide is to provide you with an overview of how to develop a recall plan and how to action that plan in the event of a recall. It will assist you in identifying unsafe products which you have received and sold.