About the CFIA > Reporting to Parliament > Corporate Business Plan > Corporate Business Plan 2003 -
2008
PART II OPERATING ENVIRONMENT
2.1 Supporting Government Priorities
In carrying out its mandate to safeguard Canada's food supply, plants and animals, the
Agency has established five strategic goals for 2003-2008. Each goal supports established
Government of Canada priorities, providing key benefits for all Canadians:
Government of Canada
Priority |
CFIA Strategic Goal |
| Public Health |
Protecting Canadians from preventable health
risks |
| Economic Growth |
Delivering a fair and effective regulatory
regime |
| Environmental Protection |
Sustaining the plant and animal resource base |
| Public Security |
Promoting the security of Canada's food supply |
| Good Governance |
Providing sound agency management |
|
The activities planned by the CFIA to contribute to each of these priorities and goals,
and the criteria by which the Agency will measure its success, are detailed in Part III of
this plan.
2.2 Building on Established Strengths
In addition to many new initiatives, the CFIA's plan for the next five years includes
the continuation or enhancement of several activities and programs that are already
underway. With a solid foundation of achievement in promoting its strategic goals, the
Agency will build on its success in all of these areas:
- Protecting public health
The CFIA contributes to the health of
Canadians through programs and activities designed to identify and manage food safety
risk, respond to food safety emergencies, carry out emergency food recalls and prevent the
spread of animal diseases to humans. The CFIA also provides Canadians with food safety
tips and guidance on how to safely handle, cook and store foods, which help contribute to
a healthy lifestyle.
- Contributing to economic growth
The CFIA contributes to a sound
economy by providing an effective regulatory regime for food, animals and plants. The
integrity of the CFIA's regulatory programs, inspection and certification activities
promote consumer and market confidence in the safety and quality of Canadian agricultural,
forestry, fish, seafood and agri-food products, and underpins the two-way movement of
goods across our borders.
- Protecting Canada's environment
CFIA programs contribute to a
healthy environment and promote Canadian biodiversity by controlling invasive species,
regulating agricultural products and protecting Canada's animal resources, crops and
forests from regulated pests and diseases.
- Contributing to public security
The Agency's scientific expertise,
extensive laboratory network and inspection capacity allow it to act rapidly and
effectively in the event of a threat to public safety or agri-food security. In addition,
the CFIA's ongoing surveillance and emergency planning activities allow it to anticipate
and prepare for potential problems.
- Regulating our borders
At border crossings, airports and seaports,
CFIA inspectors check cargo shipments from abroad--examining plants, animals, food and
packaging materials. At airports, CFIA inspectors and detector dogs screen personal
baggage for undeclared food, plants or animals that can harbour diseases or pests.
Together with the Canada Customs and Revenue Agency, the Department of Foreign Affairs and
International Trade, Citizenship and Immigration Canada and other federal agencies, the
CFIA forms part of Canada's border defence team.
- Promoting good governance
The CFIA promotes good governance through
effective service delivery, responsible spending, an enabling work environment and
well-managed administration. The CFIA is also committed to openness and transparency, not
only within the Agency, but with the Canadian public and other stakeholders as well.
2.3 The Challenges Ahead
The CFIA's plans and priorities are influenced by a number of challenges that could
affect the future of food safety, animal health and plant protection in Canada. Issues
such as increased global trade, major pest and disease outbreaks, evolving (and in some
cases conflicting) science and changing societal values require strategic responses by
governments and agri-food industries. The Agency addresses these challenges and strives to
reduce risks as part of its overall planning process. Some key areas addressed by the
CFIA's 2003-08 business plan are as follows:
Increasing globalization of trade
| To adapt and respond effectively to an increasingly global operating environment, the
CFIA needs to protect Canada's interests beyond our borders. Over the next five years, the
Agency will promote Canada's involvement and leadership by addressing the following issues
on the world stage: The rising volume of imports and exports
The volume and diversity of global trade in food, plant, and animal products are
increasing. For Canadian companies, multilateral and bilateral trade negotiations are
reducing and removing traditional trade barriers such as tariffs, quotas, and
trade-distorting subsidies. Agreements such as the North American Free Trade Agreement
(NAFTA) and the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas are increasing the flow of goods,
not only across the Canada-U.S. border, but throughout the hemisphere. As a result, in the
period from 1997-2007, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada anticipates a 40 percent increase
in agri-food exports and a 38 percent increase in agri-food imports regulated by the CFIA.
While this trade has benefits for consumers and the economy, it also increases the risk
that unsafe food, foreign pests or diseases might enter Canada through shipments of
imported goods. Should hazardous products, pests or diseases enter the country, the health
of Canadians, the economy or our environment could be affected. A strong regulatory system
that inspects and requires certification of goods entering Canada significantly reduces
these risks.
Similarly, Canada's exports of food, animal and plant products are subject to the
requirements of importing countries. As such, it is critical that the CFIA maintains its
capacity to ensure that these products are regulated and certified free of certain
diseases and pests. |
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International response to major regulatory incidents
Several high-profile international incidents in areas such as food safety and animal
health have underscored the importance of effective regulatory systems and controls.
Challenges to regulatory systems around the world have seen some countries come under
pressure to introduce non-science-based and prescriptive regulatory measures that attempt
to address past failures.
Evolution of science-based inspection strategies
As science evolves so does the CFIA's approach to promoting human, animal, and plant
health and safety. The CFIA communicates regularly with other countries and international
standard-setting bodies to negotiate appropriate inspection and program approaches. As the
Agency moves forward with modernized inspection strategies it must continue to ensure that
these approaches are science-based, effective, and acceptable to both Canadians and our
trading partners.
Development of international frameworks and standards
International food safety, animal and plant health, and environmental rules and
standards form the basis for the regulation of trans-boundary movement of products that
may pose a risk to humans, animals, and plants. Increasingly, international
standard-setting bodies are being called upon to develop standards, guidelines, and
recommendations in non-traditional areas such as environmental labelling, biotechnology,
animal welfare, and geographic indicators.
The CFIA will continue to enforce compliance with the harmonized international
regulatory framework and will continue to respond to incidents, threats, and opportunities
so that Canadians can benefit from increasing global trade without risk to themselves,
their environment, or Canada's reputation as a producer of high-quality products.
Increasing demands for CFIA services
| While the volume and complexity of imported and exported products continue to increase
the demand for CFIA inspection and certification services at the border, the growth of
domestic industries produces similar demands within Canada. For example, production
(sales) in the domestic food and beverage processing sector were $52 billion in 1996, and
are expected to grow to $77 billion by 2005.1 Consumer expectations
regarding food safety and quality are also changing. For example, food labelling programs
and policies must adapt to address consumers' concerns and needs for information in areas
such as nutrient content and methods of production (e.g. organic, grain-fed). To address
increased demands for agency services, the CFIA's strategic planning framework strives to
ensure that resources are allocated to areas of highest risk. |
 |
Renewing our workforce
To cope with growing demands for CFIA services, the CFIA has increased staffing levels
by 20 percent from 1997 to 2003. In addition, staffing needs will only increase as more
than a quarter of CFIA scientific, professional and technical personnel will become
eligible for retirement by 2008. While the CFIA has been successful in retaining its
employees, with an average three-year retention rate of 86 percent, the Agency's
forecasted five-year retirement eligibility of 25 percent in these key groups will
continue to be a focus for recruitment and retention strategies.
This need is further compounded by the fact that, by the year 2010, the Canadian labour
force will need to more than double the current number of science and technology workers
to perform the level of research and development required for Canada to remain globally
competitive.
Enhancing scientific capacity
The CFIA's networks of laboratories and scientific expertise are critical
to the Agency's ability to regulate and adapt to new technologies, respond to emerging
pathogens and pests, and assess the risks posed by foreign animal diseases or alien
invasive species. The CFIA relies on sound science as a basis for its program and policy
development. As a result, the CFIA must continue to invest in research, technology and
tools that will support the delivery of its mandate. Tightening security and preparing
for emergencies
Prevention of the inadvertent or deliberate spread of food pathogens, toxic substances,
pests and diseases that could pose a threat to human health, the agricultural production
base, or our environment is of paramount importance to the CFIA. The Agency, in
co-operation with other levels of government, must increase its level of emergency
preparedness, exercise emergency plans and procedures, and have programs in place to
assist Canada in recovering from emergencies.
At the same time, mechanisms for co-operating with foreign regulatory counterparts in
the new, security-focused era have acquired great importance. For example, with the United
States, the shared border, large volume of trade, and similarities in regulatory systems
call for working "smarter" to enhance border security while expediting two-way
movement of low-risk goods. |
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1 Source: Agriculture and Agri-Food Trade Service,
"Toward the Next Century—Market Opportunities and Challenges."
Table of Contents | Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV |
