Food industry to have better access to experts

Saskatoon, Sask. – The food industry and food inspectors will have more consistent access to information and advice after an announcement made by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).

The CFIA announced yesterday that it will create 16 targetted Centres of Expertise across Canada.

The 16 centres, expected to be implemented over the next few years, will consolidate and co-locate expertise for specific programs.

Not only will this create a more efficient system for providing guidance and expert advice, it will also provide a stronger link between the people in the CFIA who design policy and programs and the staff who deliver them.

Opening lines of communication

For the CFIA, the centres will help how it interacts with stakeholders and improve industry’s understanding and compliance with federal regulations.

The CFIA has made other efforts to improve communication. In February 2012, it announced the Statement of Rights and Service and guides to inspection, and it established the Complaints and Appeals Office.

Efforts to improve communication with stakeholders and overall industry compliance was further enhanced with the recent passage of the Safe Food for Canadians Act, which consolidated various acts and will make regulations more consistent and clear.

Locations

When selecting locations for the centres, the CFIA considered several factors, including:

• Current concentration of related industries
• Proximity to industry organizations
• Proximity to provincial experts in that field
• Proximity to academic experts in that field
• Current concentration of staff involved in the related activity

The centres will be as follows:
• Forestry: Burnaby, B.C.
• Finfish: Burnaby, B.C.
• Red Meat Slaughter: Calgary, Alta.
• Foreign Animal Disease and Emergency Management: Calgary, Alta.
• Grains & Oilseeds, Seed, Plants with Novel Traits, Fertilizer: Saskatoon, Sask.
• Agri-foods and Non-federally Registered Products: Guelph, Ont.
• Import/Export of Animals: Guelph, Ont.
• Horticulture: Guelph, Ont.
• Labelling and Claims: National Capital Region
• Animal Feed: National Capital Region
• Poultry Slaughter: St-Hyacinthe, Que.
• Processed Meat and Poultry: St-Hyacinthe, Que.
• Domestic Animal Disease and Animal Welfare: St-Hyacinthe, Que.
• Shellfish: Moncton, N.B.
• Aquatic Animal Health: Moncton, N.B.
• Potatoes and Soil: Charlottetown, P.E.I.