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GOVERNMENT INTRODUCES NEW FOOD INSPECTION AND ENFORCEMENT BILL IN THE HOUSE OF COMMONS

Ottawa, November 26, 2004 - The Honourable Andy Mitchell, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food and Minister responsible for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), today introduced the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Enforcement Act in the House of Commons.

The new Act is intended to provide a more consistent and comprehensive overall approach to inspection, enforcement and compliance activities, thus contributing to the enhanced safety and security of Canada’s food supply, animal health and plant resources.

"Canadians have one of the best food inspection systems in the world and the proposed Canadian Food Inspection Agency Enforcement Act is designed to further strengthen this system." Minister Mitchell said. "The proposed new law creates a more efficient and effective legislative framework so that our inspection system can better protect Canadians and our animal and plant resources."

Modernized and consolidated inspection and enforcement legislation will contribute to increased harmonization, and reduce overlap and duplication of inspection and enforcement authorities by allowing inspectors to be guided by a single piece of enforcement and inspection legislation. As well, a number of existing inconsistencies will be addressed with new and enhanced enforcement and inspection powers and authorities. It is also intended to provide the CFIA with new enforcement and inspection tools similar to border enforcement provisions introduced by our major trading partner, the United States.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is responsible for the administration and enforcement of ten Acts dealing with the regulation of food, animals, plants and their products. These include the Food and Drugs Act as it relates to food, and the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act as it relates to food.

The proposed Act will not alter the respective roles of the Ministers of Health and Agriculture and Agri-Food as they relate to food safety. Health Canada maintains responsibility for setting policy and standards relating to food safety and nutritional quality. The CFIA will continue to enforce the food safety provisions of the Food and Drugs Act, and administer and enforce non-health and safety provisions related to food, as it does now.

The Bill and other background material are available on the CFIA’s web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.

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For more information, media may contact:

Elizabeth Whiting
Office of the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food: (613) 759-1761

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Media relations: (613) 228-6682