Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector enjoys a global reputation for producing consistently safe, high-quality food. This has been achieved, in large part, through a strong commitment on the part of Canadian farmers to safe production practices.

Today's consumer wants more information and greater assurances about the safety and quality of the food they eat. The sector and governments are working together to meet these demands.

Through the APF and its Food Safety and Quality element, Canada is committed to ensuring that food produced in this country continues to meet the highest standards for safety and quality.

Canada-wide systems will be put in place on the farm and throughout the agri-food chain from the field to the fork to do a better job of preventing, monitoring and catching any threats to the safety of Canadian food products.

To maintain their markets, producers and processors are developing and implementing systems that demonstrate to consumers that their food and other products from agriculture meet the highest safety and quality specifications. Proof of meeting these specifications will enhance Canada's already strong reputation as a supplier of safe, high-quality food and will mean greater profitability and new market opportunities for the sector.

Food safety plans that cover most major commodities are in development or have been developed. Governments are also working with industry to develop internationally recognized food quality systems and product standards.

In addition, improved tracking and tracing systems will enable the sector to provide better safety and quality assurances to customers. These systems will help reduce the amount of product that would be affected in the event of a recall.

Canada will have an even stronger national system that will protect human health, demonstrate to consumers that Canadian food is safe, and increase the sector's ability to meet or exceed market requirements.