About the CFIA > Reporting to Parliament > Corporate Business Plan > Corporate Business Plan 2003 - 2008  

PART I INTRODUCTION

1.1 Message from the Minister

As the Minister responsible for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, I am proud to present the Agency's second Corporate Business Plan. The first time I presented a Corporate Business Plan for the CFIA, the Agency was a brand new creation, bringing together inspection services from four federal departments and pioneering the concept of a separate operating agency. Now, in 2003, the Agency is a well-established part of the Government of Canada.

Back in 1997, the CFIA had a lot of promise, but it is only possible to know what an organization is capable of when it is tested. Over the intervening years I have seen CFIA personnel deal with a variety of challenges and international crises that none of us could have foreseen. Most notable among these are the events of September 11, 2001, the outbreaks of bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) and foot-and-mouth disease in the United Kingdom, the contamination of animal feed from Belgium with dioxins, and the infestations of the brown spruce longhorn beetle in Nova Scotia and of potato wart disease in Prince Edward Island. In fact, as this document was being prepared, the Agency launched an investigation into a finding of BSE in Canada. In the process of coping with these and many other challenges, the CFIA has advanced its reputation in Canada and abroad, and I and many others have come to appreciate the professionalism and dedication of the Agency's employees.

This Corporate Business Plan sets out the CFIA's priorities and plans for the next five years. The Agency's activities, in achieving the five main strategic goals outlined in the Plan, will support major Government of Canada priorities, including protecting public health, contributing to economic growth, protecting Canada's environment, contributing to public security, and promoting good governance. The importance of the CFIA for Canada and Canadians was recognized by Parliament in the 2003 Budget, in which the Agency was granted an increase in funds.

As a partner in the Agriculture Portfolio, the CFIA is also important in supporting Canada's Agricultural Policy Framework (APF). This major policy initiative, which is being developed with our provincial and territorial partners and industry, will promote our goal of maintaining Canada's excellent reputation for safe and high-quality agriculture and agri-food products. The CFIA's activities are especially important to the food safety and food quality elements of the APF, as we work to make Canada the world leader in food safety, innovation and environmental protection.

As we continue to move forward in the 21^st century, I know that the CFIA will continue to play a vital role in protecting Canada and Canadians. I look forward to the successful implementation of the Agency's second Corporate Business Plan.

Lyle Vanclief
Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

1.2 Message from the President

As President of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, I have come to appreciate and rely on the skills, knowledge and work ethic displayed by the more than 5,300 people who comprise the CFIA. The organization that was brought into being in 1997 has matured, and the CFIA's mandate to safeguard Canada's food supply, and the plants and animals on which safe and high-quality food depends, is more important than ever.

The world we are living in today has changed from that of just a few years ago, when the Agency was created. Security concerns dominate public attention in a way that no-one could have predicted in 1997. There has been a phenomenal increase in Canada's international trade, mainly with the United States, and to a greater or lesser extent with every part of the world. Although the globalization of trade and increased travel bring many benefits to Canadians, they also mean that we must be more vigilant than ever in protecting ourselves, as events in other parts of the world can easily threaten the safety and security of Canada's food supply.

The CFIA has dealt with many significant challenges in the past several years and will deal with many challenges in the years to come. Chief among the challenges we expect are an increasing demand for the Agency's services; the need to renew our workforce and enhance our scientific capacity; and the need to tighten security and prepare for emergencies.

The Corporate Business Plan for 2003-08 sets out our response to these challenges with five strategic goals: protecting Canadians from preventable health risks; delivering a fair and effective regulatory regime; sustaining the plant and animal resource base; promoting the security of Canada's food supply; and providing sound agency management. For the next five years, CFIA personnel will be working to achieve these goals, all of which support important priorities of the Government of Canada.

As we strive to meet our objectives, strong partnerships with other federal departments and provincial and territorial governments will be a key priority for the CFIA. We will continue to develop effective working relationships with these partners, in particular Health Canada, with whom we share federal responsibility for food safety.

This Corporate Business Plan was developed with input provided by Agency employees, industry and consumer stakeholders, and our federal, provincial and territorial partners. We have summarized the feedback received during these consultations in a brochure entitled "What We Heard," available on the CFIA Web site at www.inspection.gc.ca.

Looking to the future, I am confident that the CFIA will continue to serve the people of Canada well. I look forward to working with this excellent team to achieve the ambitious goals we have set for ourselves.

Richard B. Fadden
President

1.3 Agency Overview

Created in 1997 by The Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is mandated to safeguard Canada's food supply and the plants and animals upon which safe and high-quality food depends.

In carrying out this mandate, the CFIA is committed to serving Canadians by providing protection from preventable health risks, delivering a fair and effective regulatory regime, sustaining the plant and animal resource base, and promoting the security of Canada's food supply.

Accordingly, the CFIA is the Government of Canada's key science-based regulator for the following:

• food safety*
• animal health
• plant protection

* In partnership with Health Canada

Key to the CFIA's success are three interrelated and integral factors--sound science, the delivery of effective inspection services and the fostering of strong partnerships.

Sound science

The basis of the CFIA's program design and delivery is sound science. The Agency relies on science as an essential component of its regulatory decision making. The specific kinds of science that the CFIA needs and uses to support its business lines includes laboratory science, risk assessment, surveillance, technology development and research. The Agency also undertakes analysis of scientific research data and information in order to provide scientific advice and identify emerging issues.

Effective inspection delivery

The CFIA is responsible for the administration and/or enforcement of 13 federal acts and their respective regulations. Through the delivery of inspection and other related services--ranging from product and establishment inspection to export certification and on-site safety assessments of foreign firms--the Agency verifies compliance with these laws. Critical to the effective delivery of the CFIA's mandate is the ongoing design and development of inspection-related tools and processes. This includes the continual review of regulations and policies and the implementation of new science-based inspection methodologies.

Strong partnerships

The CFIA delivers its mandate in many areas of shared jurisdiction and responsibility. Strong partnerships with other federal government departments, as well as provincial, territorial and municipal authorities are imperative to the Agency's success. All share responsibility for setting and/or enforcing standards that support the integrity of Canada's food safety, animal health and plant protection systems.

Specifically in the area of food safety, Health Canada and the CFIA share unique and complementary roles and responsibilities. Health Canada is responsible for food safety policies, standards and regulations, while the CFIA is responsible for all food inspection and compliance activities, as well as the development of regulations and policies related to food labelling and compositional standards.

The scientific community is another of the CFIA's key partners, as the Agency regularly seeks input from scientific experts when developing regulations and policies. The CFIA also recognizes the critical importance of working closely with its broad range of stakeholders. These stakeholders include the Agency's regulated parties as well as associations representing consumers, public health, animal welfare and environmental interests.

In an international context, the CFIA is a global player, striving to ensure that the international regulatory framework, as it relates to the Agency's mandate, is strong, coherent and science-based. In support of Canada's regulatory objectives, the CFIA leads or participates in the development of a number of international agreements, arrangements and standards.

Regulated sectors

To deliver its broad regulatory mandate, the CFIA enforces compliance with acts and regulations that promote both consumer protection and the oversight of food-, plant- or animal-based industries. Sectors regulated by the CFIA include agriculture, agri-food, fish, seafood, plant nursery and forestry. Products that may be subject to inspection or certification by the CFIA range from agricultural inputs, such as seeds, feeds and fertilizers to fresh foods--including meat, fish, eggs, dairy products, fruit and vegetables--and prepared and packaged foods. Those who benefit from the Agency's services include farmers, fishers, foresters, processors, distributors (importers and exporters) and--ultimately--all Canadian consumers.

Organizational structure

The CFIA is headed by a President, who reports to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. Each CFIA executive committee member is accountable for specific aspects of the Agency's policy, programming and administrative functions. The following organizational chart depicts the senior executive structure within the CFIA.

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The CFIA's workforce

With more than 5,300 dedicated professionals working across Canada, the CFIA is Canada's largest science-based regulatory agency. CFIA personnel include highly trained inspectors, veterinarians, agrologists, biologists, chemists, administrative staff, computer system specialists, financial officers, communication experts, research scientists, laboratory technicians and managers.  

With its headquarters in the National Capital Region, the CFIA is organized into four operational areas (Atlantic, Quebec, Ontario and Western) that are subdivided into 18 regional offices, 185 field offices (including border points of entry) and 408 offices in non-government establishments, such as processing facilities. The Agency also has 21 laboratories and research facilities that provide scientific advice, develop new technologies, provide testing services and conduct research.

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