The CFIA says it plans to modernize the way animals are identified to make indicators technology neutral.

Livestock sector raises issue with new traceability reporting times

CFIA update will also bring goats, farmed deer and elk under traceability

An online consultation on livestock traceability came back with widespread support for the general premise, but with concerns about tighter timelines for reporting and tag retention. Last year, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency unveiled proposed changes to Canada’s national livestock traceability rules, including a shorter window in which producers are to report animal movements and

(Shadowinternet/E+/Getty Images)

ASF compartmentalization moves a step forward

Plan not an attempt to download responsibilities, CFIA says

Canada is one step closer to a compartmentalizing regime that hog farmers and the rest of the industry hope protects them against market impacts of African swine fever. Practical application can be developed now that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has released its National Standards and National Framework for the Canadian ASF Compartment Program. From


(TDTT/iStock/Getty Images)

Seed regulation consultation results released

CFIA 'anticipates' more consultations this winter

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is getting closer to updating its seed regulations. On Monday, the agency released a “What We Heard” report summarizing the responses of 315 individuals and groups who participated in an online survey from Feb. 15 to May 1. The CFIA is looking to update seed regulations to “reduce complexity, protect

The CFIA has suspended import of French poultry products, except for canned or cooked items.

CFIA pumps brakes on French poultry

Move linked to France’s avian flu vaccination program

Canada has tightened its rules around poultry products from France. On Sept. 27, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency announced it would temporarily suspend French hatching eggs, live poultry and any raw or frozen poultry products from entering Canada, effective Oct. 1. The suspension does not cover canned, cooked or heat-treated products. Why it matters: North


File photo of grilled pork intestine on skewers at a street food stall in the Philippines. (Junpinzon/iStock/Getty Images)

Philippines to host Canada’s Indo-Pacific ag office

AAFC/CFIA base to be set up in Manila, Bibeau says

Canada’s agriculture department and food safety agency will carry out their part of the federal government’s Indo-Pacific strategy from a new office in Manila, Philippines. Federal Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau announced the office’s location Wednesday in Ottawa during a meeting with the Canadian Agri-Food Trade Alliance (CAFTA), which represents Canada’s export-dependent ag commodity groups on

"It’s been a long
time coming," said Nadine Frost, senior director of scientific and regulatory affairs at Fertilizer Canada.

Fertilizer industry commends CFIA extension

Applicable businesses will have longer to get their labels in line with new framework

Fertilizer manufacturers and retailers are being given a slight reprieve from new incoming regulations for fertilizer labeling. A transition period for the sector to adjust labels was set to end Oct. 26, but the Canadian Food Inspection Agency now says that pandemic-driven supply chain disruptions have made that target difficult to meet. The agency says


Outages in the wake of Eastern Canada’s early April ice storm led to delays of the CFIA’s digital import declaration system.

Ice storm bottlenecks CFIA import system

Outages led to a temporary backlog of digital declaration paperwork awaiting processing

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency was among the victims of an ice storm that struck Eastern Canada in early April. On April 6, the national agency announced it was experiencing delays in processing import declarations. The CFIA’s systems were functional, users of the online portal were told, and Canadians were urged to continue submitting information

The elk sector began pursuing traceability in 1989 at the request of provinces and wildlife agencies.

Elk farmers not thrown by traceability proposal

While federal traceability is new, provincial programs are old hat

Producer groups say a proposal to add elk to federal traceability rules is not a problem for the industry. In fact, according to Ian Thorleifson, provincial programs in regions like Alberta have already gone above and beyond what the federal proposal would entail. Livestock sectors have until June to give feedback on proposed changes to


File photo of goats on display at the Hanover Agricultural Fair in Grunthal, Man. in August 2019. (Dave Bedard photo)

CFIA seeks feedback on traceability, animal ID amendments

Producers have until June 16 to comment on proposals

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is now seeking comment on its proposed amendments to livestock identification and traceability regulations. The regulatory proposal would address what the agency calls “gaps” in the current system, including: adding goats and cervids as animal species that share diseases with other regulated livestock, and therefore subject to traceability requirements, shortening

Stefanie Beck (DND photo) and Dr. Harpreet Kochhar (Uoguelph.ca).

Feds appoint new deputy ag minister, CFIA chief

Eleven senior civil servants shuffled

Canada’s government has lined up a new federal deputy minister for agriculture and a new president for the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, both to take office later this month. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Friday announced a shuffle in the top ranks of the public service involving 11 senior managers following four recent retirements. Associate