Twenty-five years ago, by an Act of Parliament, The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) was created by amalgamating all federally mandated food inspection and animal and plant health activities into a single organization.
In doing so, Canada has given consumers and the food industry a single point of contact: And it remains unique in the world for ensuring food safety with a single regulator. Here are some numbers that market the CFIA at 25:
- With over 6,000 employees and 13 laboratories across Canada, the CFIA is also Canada’s largest science-based regulatory agency.
- In 2020-21, the CFIA supported the following activities with staff and laboratories across Canada:
- 1.1 million inspections carried out for plant, food and animal products;
- $74 billion in agricultural exports;
- 223 food recall warnings and allergy alerts; and
- 8,082 electronic export certificates were issued.
“This year, the CFIA celebrates 25 years of scientific innovation, inspection, enforcement, operational and regulatory excellence,” said CFIA President Siddika Mithani. “Protecting food safety, plant and animal health and supporting market access is a mandate of critical importance to all of us here at the CFIA and to Canadians.
The Honorable Jean-Yves Duclos, Canada’s Minister of Health, said: “I would like to pay tribute to the thousands of CFIA employees who have taken so many important steps to protect and preserve our food supply over the of the last quarter century. Thanks to their efforts, the food we eat in Canada is among the safest in the world. As we recover from the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic and respond to ongoing economic, environmental and global changes, the CFIA will continue to be there for Canadians as a trusted, science-based regulator.
The Honorable Marie-Claude Bibeau, Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, also declared: “With production methods that meet the highest standards and the scientific rigor that is the basis of its business, the Canada enjoys an excellent international reputation as a supplier of high-quality food. »
“The CFIA helps maintain this reputation by making exporting easier for all Canadian agri-food producers and processors,” he added. “On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the agency, I would like to thank all the employees who work daily to ensure the safety of our food and allow our agri-food industry to be an important economic driver.
On the occasion of its 25 years of protecting Canada’s food supply, Canada highlighted that it remains the only jurisdiction in the world to consolidate all food regulations under one roof. And the CFIA is not just about food.
He says healthy eating starts with healthy plants and animals. That’s why the CFIA also works to prevent the spread of invasive plants, plant pests and animal diseases.
He added that the CFIA’s work touches all Canadians, whether it’s a potato farmer who wants to sell products in Canada and abroad, a seed grower who wants to develop new ways of selecting plants, a livestock farmer, a person who transports livestock in his truck, a consumer at the grocery store, a gardener at the garden center or a traveler coming to Canada.
The CFIA says it is fueled by its staff – including inspectors, veterinarians and scientists – who work tirelessly to ensure Canadians can trust the food on their plates is safe, protect resources plant and animal protection against diseases and pests, facilitating trade and market access for Canadian-made products, and conducting innovative research.
Inspect. Protect. Relate. Everyone in Canada is invited to join the CFIA in celebrating its 25th anniversary by learning more about the agency’s role, its diverse workforce, and the steps we can all take to help protect our precious food, plant and animal resources.
(To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, Click here.)
