Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Science Branch
Laboratories
CFIA’S
Laboratories Directorate consists of a network of 21 laboratory sites across
the country, managed by Laboratory Area Network Directors in CFIAs four areas (Atlantic,
Quebec, Ontario and Western Areas), and the Executive Directors office in
Nepean.
CFIA laboratories
assist CFIAs
Operations staff to investigate consumer concerns, complaints and safety
issues. If you need information about a consumer issue, or have a complaint,
contact the
CFIA Webmaster.
CFIA laboratories
provide specialized laboratory testing, research, and accreditation services,
as well as expert scientific advice for delivery of the Agencys
programs:
-
To ensure the safety, quality and honest and accurate labelling
of food, including the traditional "agri-foods" and their processed
products; and of fish and seafood products
-
To protect the health of Canadian animals (livestock, poultry
and game-ranched animals) and of plants and plant materials.
-
To ensure the safety of agricultural inputs - feeds, fertilizers
and seeds
What we do:
Testing
CFIAs
Laboratories Directorate testing services are part of the Agencys
national programs for Animal Health, Feeds, Fertilizers, Food (including fish
and seafood), Plant Protection, Seed Potato Certification and Seeds. Each of
the Agencys 21 laboratory sites provides specialized testing services for
one or more national programs. Chemists, biochemists, microbiologists and
biologists and technicians perform tests and conduct analyses on samples that
CFIA inspectors
collect for certification, surveillance and monitoring programs. The
laboratories also provide specialized testing support for Agency staff to
investigate issues of concern, to meet requests for new services, and for
methods validation. Laboratory technical specialists work with CFIA program officers to design the
sampling and testing components of surveillance and monitoring programs to
verify that food sold in Canada is safe and correctly labelled.
Research and Technology Development
CFIA laboratory
scientists are active in research on food hazards and foodborne diseases; on
diseases and pests of animals and plants; and on new and improved testing and
analytical methods to ensure that foods and other commodities meet
international standards for health and safety. CFIA scientists, chemists and
biologists are constantly involved in short-term projects to address immediate
issues, or to meet specific requirements for new test methodologies or
adaptations. In addition, CFIA has a formal research and
technology development program, which supports longer-term research to develop
new knowledge and new technologies to address CFIA program needs.
CFIA is a partner
in Agriculture and Agri-Food Canadas Matching Investment Initiative (MII)
program which matches industry support of approved projects.
CFIAs
research projects are also listed in the Inventory of
Canadian Agri-Food
Research (ICAR), a comprehensive data base compiled annually by the Canadian Agri-Food Research Council (CARC)
that lists projects from industry, universities and provincial and federal
establishments.
Accreditation of non-CFIA labs
The CFIA promotes
the transfer, where feasible, of testing services to non-federal laboratories,
and provides technical expertise and other assistance to accredit non-CFIA laboratories to perform
test services that meet CFIA and international quality
management standards. Currently CFIA participates in three
accreditation systems:
-
CFIA
provides proficiency testing and technical audit services to the Standards Council of Canada (SCC), for its
accreditation of laboratories that test foods, fertilizers, and feeds.
-
CFIA
provides proficiency testing and technical audit services to the Canadian Seeds
Institute to accredit private seeds labs.
-
CFIA
acts as the accrediting body for non-federal laboratories that provide testing
for animal diseases (brucellosis, bovine leukemia, and equine infectious
anaemia), for testing meat for Trichinella spiralis to meet export requirements
and for testing seed potatoes for certification requirements and for
export.
Scientific Advice and Scientific Services
Scientific and technical staff in CFIAs laboratories provide
information, advice and expertise to CFIA inspection and policy
officials:
-
To support the design and operation of improved inspection
practices, such as the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system,
and to contribute to program evolution;
-
For the registration and licencing of products for use in
agriculture;
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To assist CFIAs Operations officers to
resolve consumer issues and investigations
-
To assist Canadian and international scientific organizations
and trading partners to harmonize international health and testing
requirements, and to resolve trade issues.
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