About the CFIA > Reporting to Parliament > Annual Report > Annual Report 1998 - 1999

Our Approach to Business

The Agency is committed to consultation as one of the most effective ways of identifying and managing issues and understanding the needs and concerns of its stakeholders. The Agency holds ongoing consultations with a broad range of stakeholders, including consumers, industry, the provinces and territories, interest groups, unions and staff. In addition, the CFIA has identified advisory groups at various levels.

PARTNERSHIPS

Food safety is a shared responsibility. Maintaining the integrity of the food, animal and plant health system is a complex task which the CFIA addresses in partnership with provincial/territorial governments, consumers and industry, as well as with other federal departments.

INTERGOVERNMENTAL COOPERATION

The Parliament / Le Parlement The CFIA is a member of the Canadian Food Inspection System Implementation Group (CFISIG) which is comprised of members from federal, provincial and territorial agencies for agriculture, health and fisheries. CFISIG is managing the development of the Canadian Food Inspection System (CFIS) initiative, aimed at the harmonization of food standards and inspection systems to create an integrated food inspection system responsive to both consumers and industry.

The CFIA is also supported in meeting its mandate by other federal-provincial/territorial committees, including those addressing food inspection and food safety issues.

The Federal-Provincial/Territorial Inspection Committee is technical and science-based, and works to facilitate a coordinated Canadian approach to agri-food issues, particularly those involving food standards, but including technical issues involving animal health, plant protection, farm inputs, food production, processing, distribution and retail sale. One of the committee’s major roles is to bridge possible gaps between science and policy.

The Federal-Provincial/Territorial Committee on Food Safety Policy is dedicated to the protection and improvement of the health of Canadians by focussing on emerging and anticipated food safety issues. Its members evaluate and promote pertinent standards, policies and educational programs aimed at increasing public knowledge of health hazards associated with food.

THE CANADIAN FOOD INSPECTION SYSTEM (CFIS)

Governments working together to develop a more integrated system

In July 1994, agriculture ministers endorsed a Blueprint Document for the Canadian Food Inspection System that outlines a vision and guiding principles for the development of a national program of food inspection.

To realize this vision, three broad goals must be achieved:

harmonized standards;
integrated inspection delivery systems; and
an inter-jurisdictional forum for harmonizing standards, procedures and methods for food inspection.

In June 1996, First Ministers confirmed the need for a more integrated Canadian food inspection system. Subsequently, agriculture ministers asked the CFIS Implementation Group (CFISIG) to ensure that the Blueprint was implemented.

Since then, the CFISIG has made significant progress through the following working committees and initiatives:

Common Legislative Base for Food Safety and Quality;
National Dairy Regulation and Code;
Food Retail and Food Services Regulation and Code;
Meat and Poultry Regulation and Code;
Horticultural Regulation and Code;
Good Transportation Practices; and
Bottled Water Regulation and Code.

FEDERAL-PROVINCIAL AGREEMENTS Inspection picture / Image d'inspection

The Agency is progressing in its work with its provincial and territorial partners toward the development and implementation of federal-provincial/ territorial agreements. These agreements will allow for the advancement of a more integrated approach to food inspection. To date, agreements of various types have been signed between the Agency and the governments of Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and the Northwest Territories.

PARTICIPATION IN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS

The CFIA is actively involved with international organizations for three main purposes: to ensure the safety of food, animals and plants that leave or enter the country; to maintain and expand international market access and protect Canada’s interests by reducing non-tariff trade barriers; and to influence the development of international standards and encourage the adoption of world-class, science-based sanitary and phytosanitary requirements. The CFIA participates in multilateral organizations such as the World Trade Organization (WTO), Codex Alimentarius, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), the North American Plant Protection Organization (NAPPO), the International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the Office International des Épizooties (OIE).