FOOD SAFETY AND FOOD QUALITY

Industry has recognized the changing nature of consumer expectations with respect to food safety assurance and food quality systems, and has been moving to meet these emerging demands. In June 2001, federal, provincial and territorial governments endorsed a process to provide government recognition for on-farm food safety systems, an important first step in meeting consumer and market needs, and consequently in ensuring the long-term profitability of the sector.

But more needs to be done if industry is to continue to stay one step ahead of evolving consumer expectations. Below are proposed goals for governments that were developed in consultation with industry. Proposed targets and indicators and implementation measures provide more information on how the proposed goals would be achieved and on how governments would report progress to Canadians.

PROPOSED COMMON OUTCOME GOALS

It is proposed that governments work with industry and consumers on the following food safety and food quality common outcome goals:

• to protect human health by reducing exposure to hazards;
• to increase consumer confidence in the safety and quality of food sold in Canada or exported from Canada;
• to increase industry's ability to meet or to exceed market requirements for food safety and food quality; and
• to provide value-added opportunities through the adoption of food safety and food quality systems.

PROPOSED COMMON MANAGEMENT GOALS

It is proposed that governments work with industry towards the development and implementation of food safety and food quality process control systems throughout the agri-food continuum.

Working together, governments could:

• increase significantly the quality, quantity and availability of data or other information to support the development of risk management strategies and industry-led food safety and food quality process control systems;
• establish governance systems to allow for integrated policy development and legislative harmonization; and
• provide governmental oversight for industry-led food safety and food quality process control systems.

PROPOSED TARGETS AND INDICATORS

It is proposed that governments work with industry to achieve the following food safety and food quality targets by 2008:

• all production sectors will develop or participate in government-recognized process control systems;
• all other sectors of the agri-food continuum requesting government-recognized process control systems will develop or participate in such systems;
• all sectors requiring a national system for quality to meet marketing requirements will develop or participate in government-recognized process control systems; and
• 80 per cent of domestic products available at the retail level will be traceable through the agri-food continuum. All products or commodities for which process control systems are being developed will include some form of traceability.

It is proposed that governments work to:

• increase the rate of transfer of technology arising from publicly supported research and development to support hazard detection and control; and
• share and make readily available among governments and, where appropriate, with industry and other partners, relevant data and information to support public health and food safety systems.

PROPOSED IMPLEMENTATION MEASURES

Food Safety

Governments could work with industry and other involved stakeholders to:

• offer programs, funding and technical assistance to facilitate industry development and implementation of government-recognized process control systems;
• introduce measures to facilitate the development by industry of food safety training materials and appropriate training courses;
• establish a national, credible and coordinated governmental oversight system for food safety process control systems, including the completion of the design for a national oversight system for on-farm food safety programs by the end of 2003 and the expansion of government oversight to other sectors in the agri-food continuum as requested;
• work with their health ministers towards a national mechanism for integrated decision-making on food safety matters;
• enhance public health surveillance systems as they relate to food safety within their jurisdiction by:
  • completing an inventory and analysis of existing information gathering and dissemination systems by the end of 2003;
  • identifying any legal implications associated with information gathering, sharing and dissemination, and develop a proposed strategy for addressing these implications by the end of 2004;
  • developing a proposed strategy and implementation plan for improved public health surveillance, information sharing and dissemination by 2005; and
  • working towards improving the legislative framework and decision making process for food safety, including outcome-based national standards, and legislative harmonization. Governments could jointly develop a work plan for model legislation for consideration by June 2003 and to work towards incorporating model legislation into their legislative systems by 2008.

Food Quality

It is proposed that governments promote international acceptance of Canadian agricultural and agri-food products. And, where requested by industry and where appropriate, it is proposed that governments establish national, credible and coordinated programs to facilitate the development of government-recognized food quality systems including, where appropriate, funding and technical assistance.

Traceability

It is proposed that governments facilitate the implementation of traceability systems by industry throughout the agri-food continuum, possibly by means such as:

• assisting the agriculture and agri-food industry in the development of data management standards for traceability systems;
• continuing to support the development of traceability systems at the retail level; and
• providing funding and technical support for development of traceability and Identity Preservation systems, along the agri-food continuum.

Research for Food Safety and Food Quality

It is proposed that governments work with the industry and other institutions to coordinate research activities and promote technology transfer to:

• improve food safety hazard detection and control methodologies;
• identify risks and develop intervention strategies for the management of risks; and
• support and improve the development and implementation of more effective industry-led food safety, traceability, and food quality systems.

• What is the APF?
• Overview: Building a More Profitable Agriculture and Agri-food Sector for Canada
  
• Business Risk Management
  
• Renewal
  
• Food Safety and Food Quality
  
• Environment
  
• Science and Innovation
  
• Gaining Recognition at Home and Abroad and Maximizing International Opportunities