The Canadian Food Inspection Agency will start posting the names of importers and domestic food companies that run afoul of food safety laws.
“This is a fair and balanced way to protect consumers,” Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz told a media briefing at a small community grocery store.
“While consumers have a high degree of confidence in the safety of the food supply, they want more information on the measures being taken to protect them.”
Posting the names on the CFIA website ( www.inspection.gc.ca) will make the food inspection system more transparent to consumers, he said, and provide a powerful incentive for companies to clean up their act, especially if their names show up on the violation list on more than one occasion.
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“We know consumers want more information and we are delivering that transparency around what we are doing to protect Canadian families,” said Ritz. “This will give our inspectors another tool in the tool box to shine the light of transparency on repeat offenders and companies that try (to) import unsafe food.”
The CFIA will post information on food imports that have been refused entry into Canada; federally registered food establishments whose licences have been suspended, cancelled or reinstated; and notices of violations with warning and penalties, including identifying repeat offenders of animal transport regulations.
The agency will work with consumers and industry on compliance and enforcement issues while practising fairness, impartiality and consistency, said Ritz.
Presently, about the only time consumers learn of a problem is when a recall is launched by the company or the CFIA.
Canada is following the example of other countries, notably the United States, in disclosing such information.
Some information will be provided quarterly and some monthly, the minister added. In future, the CFIA may move beyond listing suspensions or cancellations of company licences to include details of inspection reports. Reports of American inspections of Canadian plants are available through the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Chris Kyte, president of the Food Processors of Canada, said posting the results of food safety inspection “is a good step because it holds people accountable. Everyone will know about what’s happening.”
Most companies follow food safety procedures properly, but facing the threat of exposure in a business where reputation is vital should keep companies focused on food safety, he said.
The CFIA seems to have finally decided to proceed with a plan to license food importers, said Kyte. That’s an important step because it will show how the CFIA tracks food safety problems with imported foods and will make the publishing of names all that more important, he said.
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“Thiswillgiveourinspectorsanother toolinthetoolboxtoshinethelightof transparencyonrepeatoffendersand companiesthattry(to)importunsafefood.”
– AGRICULTURE MINISTER GERRY RITZ
