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 CFIA’s four areas (Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and Western Areas), and the Executive Director’s office in Nepean.

• Where to find us

CFIA laboratories assist CFIA’s 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 Agency’s 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

CFIA’s Laboratories Directorate testing services are part of the Agency’s national programs for Animal Health, Feeds, Fertilizers, Food (including fish and seafood), Plant Protection, Seed Potato Certification and Seeds. Each of the Agency’s 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.

• list of  CFIA research projects

CFIA is a partner in Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s Matching Investment Initiative (MII) program which matches industry support of approved projects.

CFIA’s 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 CFIA’s 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;

• To assist CFIA’s 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.