Canadian Food Inspection Agency - 2001-2002 Annual Report

Food Safety
Compliance Rate	Processed Products	Fish	Fresh Fruits and Vegetables	Dairy	Eggs	Meat Hygiene
Product	Samples meet minimum requirements under the Canada Agricultural Products Act and Regulations, Food and Drug Act and Regulations and Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and Regulations for product contamination, pesticide residues, heavy metals, microbial risks, labelling, container integrity, grade, product identity, and harmful extraneous material.*	Products meet minimum requirements under the Fish Inspection Act and Regulations, Food and Drug Act and Regulations and Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and Regulations for product safety, wholesomeness, composition, and labelling.	Samples do not exceed maximum tolerance levels for chemical residues established under the Food and Drug Act and Regulations.* Microbial compliance determined by Human Health Risk Evaluations carried out by Health Canada.* Non-health and safety meet the requirements established under the Canada Agricultural Products Act (Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Regulations).**	Products meet minimum requirements under the Canada Agricultural Products Act and Regulations, Food and Drug Act and Regulations and Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and Regulations for composition and nutrition, microbial contamination, chemical residues, microbial risks, labelling, container integrity, grade, net quantity, and product identity. *	Product meets minimum requirements under the Egg Regulations, Processed Egg Regulations, Canada Agricultural Products Act, Food and Drugs Act and Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act and Regulations for microbial contamination, pesticide residues, wholesomeness and labelling.* Product meets regulatory requirements for formulation, labelling, microbial contamination, process, heavy metals, chemical residues.*	Product meets regulatory requirements for formulation, labelling, microbial contamination, process, heavy metals, and chemical residues.*
Establishments	All applicable requirements met within established tolerance levels. The conditions at the time of inspection*** were adequate for production, packaging, and storage of safe food products.	Fish processing establishments meet the regulatory requirement to develop and implement a Quality Management Program, which includes HACCP application, documented controls for plant sanitation, hygiene, construction and equipment, recall, and regulatory controls for product standards, labelling, and input materials, such as packaging and ingredients. Establishment compliance is a determination of the management capability to ensure a processing environment and operational controls that meet regulatory requirements and result in the production of fish and seafood products which are safe, wholesome, and accurately labelled.	Not applicable.	Establishments meet all regulatory requirements for equipment, good manufacturing practices, environmental conditions, and document control programs for premises, transportation and storage, equipment, sanitation, personnel, and a recall program. Compliance is measured according to the health and safety category of each item assessed.***	Processed egg and egg grading establishments meet regulatory requirements for plant sanitation and process controls, including equipment, employee practices, construction, packaging, and product and ingredient storage. ***	Establishments meet regulatory requirements for safe construction, equipment, manufacturing, packaging, storage and sanitation.***
* Non-compliance may result in additional sampling and/or product detention or recall. CFIA services carried out by request. Products not meeting requirements are detained. * Compliance results reflect the conditions of the establishments at the time of inspection. The frequency of inspection is determined by the compliance rating.

In the area of animal health, the Agency inspects for compliance of livestock feeds with federal standards for safety, efficacy, and labelling.

In the area of plant protection, the Agency inspects for compliance of seed and fertilizer with federal standards for safety, product, and process.

The CFIA's Laboratories Directorate conducts research, method development, scientific advice, and testing in support of all 14 Agency programs. In addition to providing science advice and performing research in support of the Agency's regulatory activities, scientists in the CFIA's laboratories test and analyze samples collected each year by CFIA inspectors.

5.2 Sampling

The overall aim of the CFIA's various sampling schemes is to reduce food-borne illnesses, both the acute illnesses that result from pathogenic bacteria and the chronic illnesses that are associated with longer-term consumption of harmful chemicals.

The Agency has developed different inspection sampling approaches for each commodity based on a number of factors. These factors include: the individual pathogen or chemical and the risk it poses, the level of consumption, the type of product, the type of processing it has received, and the degree of additional preparation it will receive before consumption.

To achieve its mandate, the CFIA conducts random and targeted sampling. Targeted sampling is typically conducted on plant products imported into Canada from other countries presenting a quarantine pest risk. Products and establishments associated with a food recall or food-borne illness outbreak utilize targeted sampling for further inspection.

Random sampling is normally used in inspecting domestic products for either the domestic or export market. A number of circumstances fall under random sampling, which allows for valid statistical inferences to be made on the sampled lots. Random sampling is invoked to audit samples that have been taken by an enterprises' internal sampling practices. These audits often verify processes using accepted sampling plans derived by either Codex or by International Standards Organization (ISO). The Codex plans, referenced by NAFTA, are used mainly for fresh fruit and vegetable products. Product inspection or monitoring that utilizes the ISO 2859-1 acceptance sampling plans is based on a 95% level of confidence and occasionally follows the 2859-3 standard for skipping lots. They involve visual inspections and aim primarily to verify compliance with quality and safety standards. For compliance to safety measures and criteria special microbiological sampling procedures are also used.

Another use of random sampling is to create special sampling plans tailored to specific situations. Such scenarios may occur under an outbreak of BSE in the U.K. or a plum pox epidemic or the establishment of other plant diseases. In such cases, appropriate statistical distributions are used to describe the phenomena and derive a subsequent sampling scheme; otherwise, statistical modelling may be used to achieve a meaningful sampling approach.

Establishments are subjected to three levels of scrutiny, depending on the results of compliance testing. Establishments with good compliance results generally receive a normal level of sampling as defined under ISO sampling schemes. Should a problem be identified within a establishment, the level changes to a tightened level wherein stricter standards are applied. Should an establishment demonstrate consistently good results, its sampling level moves to reduced status.

Each commodity warrants a somewhat varied sampling plan which is also carried out to maximize the effectiveness and efficiency of its available resources. A finite amount of resources affects the sampling scheme and, as such, statistical inference cannot always be derived from compliance rates. However, given our knowledge of sources of variability and the way sampling is done, data is deemed indicative.

5.3 Sound Science and the CFIA

Sound science supports the activities and programs associated with the CFIA's three business lines. Sound science is the foundation for effective programs and decision-making. The CFIA's continued scientific credibility, at home and abroad, rests on its ability to provide expert services and advice rooted in leading-edge science-based approaches. Over the coming years, the CFIA will continue to invest in and strengthen its scientific capacity and infrastructure to meet constantly growing demands.

The federal government wants to put its Framework for Science and Technology Advice in place by March 2003. This framework is based on the principles and guidelines outlined in Science Advice for Government Effectiveness (SAGE), the document released in May 2000 by the Council of Science and Technology Advisors. The government has directed all science-based departments and agencies (SBDAs) to use SAGE principles. The program's goal is that the best science advice is provided for key issues and that both the public and Parliament are confident that government is using science in the best interests of all Canadians. Following SAGE guidelines, the CFIA is working with other SBDAs to build effective, credible, science-based approaches to policy development and regulatory affairs. CFIA officials participated in the interdepartmental working groups developing the tools for applying the Framework for Science and Technology Advice across the government.

The CFIA has its own strategic Science and Technology Action Plan to address the three key implementation elements of the Framework: promote adoption of the SAGE principles and guidelines; ensure accountability for these principles and guidelines within departments and across government; and evaluate how effectively the SAGE principles and guidelines have been integrated into the science advice, programs, and policies of the SBDAs.

As part of a continuing series of fora the CFIA is holding to discuss the emerging science and technology issues that affect CFIA activities, a forum on Invasive Species Affecting Plants resulted in recommendations for future actions that senior management may consider to address the threat of invasive species.

The Government of Canada's Federal Innovation Networks of Excellence (FINE) initiative addresses issues that pertain to the national, interdepartmental aspects of federal science and technology activities. FINE recognizes that departments have shared concerns and interests and that they must work together to achieve best results. As a FINE supporter, the CFIA is actively participating in the pilot/model lab cluster for the chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) Research & Technology Initiative (CRTI). A key part of the CRTI concept is to create clusters of federal and other government labs that contribute to national preparedness for response to a CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear) terrorist attack.

The CFIA works to strengthen the links between regulatory policy and science advice in decision-making. The Agency is instrumental in fulfilling the needs highlighted in Canada's science strategies, which include placing a high priority on training and responsiveness, developing state-of-the-art laboratories, and taking advantage of the opportunities that are emerging in the science and technology sectors.

Compliance	Animal Health	Plant Protection
	Feed	Seed	Fertilizer
Product	Meets regulatory requirements under the Feeds Act and Regulations.+	Meets minimum standards under the Seeds Act and Regulations.+	Meets all relevant standards under the Fertilizers Act and Regulations.+
Establishment	Meets regulatory requirements under the Health of Animals Act and Regulations.	All applicable quality system requirements met prescribed standards under the Seeds Act and Regulations. The conditions at time of audit were adequate for production, packaging, labelling, storage, and sale.	Not applicable.
+ Based on general market place monitoring, follow-up, and investigation. Non-compliance may result in additional sampling and/or product detention. Appendix 3: Sound Science and the CFIA Sound science supports the activities and programs associated with the CFIA's three business lines. Sound science is the foundation for effective programs and decision-making. The CFIA's continued scientific credibility, at home and abroad, rests on its ability to provide expert services and advice rooted in leading-edge science-based approaches. Over the coming years, the CFIA will continue to invest in and strengthen its scientific capacity and infrastructure to meet constantly growing demands.

5.0 APPENDICES

5.1 A Note on Compliance Rates

Food Safety

Compliance

Animal Health

Plant Protection

5.2 Sampling

5.3 Sound Science and the CFIA