OTTAWA, CANADA - Food safety has been a hot button topic lately, due to recent E. coli outbreaks. The Canadian Produce Marketing Association (CPMA) is ready to face these concerns head on by supporting the introduction of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) new Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR). The regulations officially came into effect on January 15.

“CPMA would like to thank the CFIA for the collaborative approach they have taken during the development of the Safe Food for Canadians Act and its subsequent regulations,” said Ron Lemaire, CPMA President, in a press release. “These regulations allow businesses to be innovative while still ensuring they manage the risks associated with their products.”

Described by the CFIA, the purpose of the SFCR is to “make our food system even safer by focusing on prevention and allowing for faster removal of unsafe food from the marketplace. They will reduce unnecessary administrative burden on businesses by replacing 14 sets of regulations with one, and will help maintain and grow market access for Canada's agri-food and agricultural sector.”

In concert with the Food Safety Systems Recognition Arrangement, the SFCR enables Canadian producers to operate under one set of food safety regulations (SFCR), while still being recognized by Canada’s biggest trading partner, the U.S.

Jeff Hall, CPMA’s Food Safety Specialist, commented, “Canadian consumers can be confident that foods regulated by the SFCR have been grown, manufactured, or imported in a system designed to manage the risks associated with the products. I look forward to assisting CPMA members as they transition to working under the SFCR.”

AndNowUKnow will keep you updated on further food safety regulations.

Canadian Produce Marketing Association