Canadian Food Inspection Agency Joins Health Portfolio

Background Information: Canadian Food Inspection Agency Joins Health Portfolio

The Government is committed to supporting Canadian families by continuing to take action to strengthen and build upon our world-class food safety system.

As a government, we are always looking for ways to improve how we regulate, share information, and communicate with Canadians when it comes to food safety.

Since 2006, the Government has:

• Prioritized the review of food additives and other interventions that could improve food safety
• Established Inspection Verification Teams
• Hired more inspectors
• Instituted new controls for E. coli in meat plants
• Enhanced consumer education tools
• Delivered over half a billion dollars in net, new investment in the CFIA

In May 2013, The Honourable Gerry Ritz, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, unveiled the Safe Food for Canadians Action Plan. This framework will improve Canada's food safety system by strengthening food safety rules, ensuring a more effective inspection regime, and enhancing communication with consumers.

Canada's food safety regime is comprised of three federal authorities: Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, which report to the Minister of Health; and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), which reports to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food.

Today, we are taking an additional step to further strengthen food safety for Canadians. The CFIA has now joined Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada in reporting to the Honourable Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health.

This reorganization will strengthen Canada's food safety system by bringing all three authorities responsible for food safety under one Minister. This will ensure clear focus, easy collaboration, and timely communication with Canadians when it comes to food safety. This change also further underscores the CFIA's commitment to food safety as a top priority.

The Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food will continue to be responsible for the CFIA's non-food safety agricultural activities, including economic and trade issues, as well as important animal health and plant protection work. The CFIA will continue to support the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food in exercising these responsibilities and will ensure a continued focus on Government policies, programs, and services that will help drive the economic prosperity of Canada's agricultural sector.

Today's announcement supports and further strengthens Canada's food safety system. Our Government is keeping a clear focus on Canadian families by improving our ability to communicate with them about food safety through one Minister.