New Food Safety Regulations Enter into Force in Canada

Canada on 15 January implemented new food safety regulations that according to Canadian authorities will usher “a new era of food safety for Canadians.” According to a press release from the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, the new rules are consistent with international standards and further strengthen Canada’s food safety system by focusing on prevention and allowing for faster removal of unsafe food from the marketplace. Moreover, the regulations will ostensibly provide greater market opportunities for Canadian food products exported abroad and will reduce unnecessary administrative burdens by replacing 14 sets of regulations with one.

Among other requirements, food businesses that import or prepare food for export or to be sent across provincial or territorial boundaries must have a licence. Businesses are also required to have preventive controls that outline steps to address potential risks to food safety and to trace their food back to their supplier and forward to businesses who bought their products. Some of these requirements are already in force while others will be phased in over a 12 to 30 month period, depending on the food commodity, type of activity and business size.