Thursday, February 7, 2019

Canadian Food Law Goes Into Effect, Impact on US Suppliers to Canada

Canada's updated food safety laws went into effect on January 15th.  These are HACCP based regulations that require preventive controls for hazards identified within food processes.
Companies that want to ship into Canada must work with a licensed Canadian importer.  For exporting to the US, a Canadian company with a license is a qualified foreign supplier as part of the FSVP regulations.

According to the web page for food importation into Canada, foreign suppliers do not need to license, but they must work with a Canadian importer who does have a license.  In essence, this put all of the responsibility on the Canadian importer.
 "Foreign businesses preparing foods for export to Canada do not need a licence under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR). The Canadian business importing food into Canada needs a licence under the SFCR to import and any other permission as required by other Canadian Departments and Agencies. Work with an SFC-licensed importer to ensure that your food products meet all applicable requirements of the SFCR. Only in limited situations would you qualify to apply for a licence as a non-resident importer. "  
The CFIA has published a Step-by-Step guide for importers.  "This guide describes the recommended steps you can follow to meet the requirements to import food into Canada and to maintain a food import licence. As an importer, it's your responsibility to make sure the food you import is safe and that it meets Canadian requirements."
Before you import 
Step 1: Know your food what are the risks? (Guide for Preventive Control Plan for Importers)
Step 2: Familiarize yourself with Canadian requirements for importing food - in addition to controlling hazards, there is requirements for ensuring standards, grades, net quantity, and labeling.
Step 3: Select an appropriate foreign supplier
Step 4: Preventive control plan create it and implement it
Step 5: Develop a recall and complaints procedure
Step 6: Apply for your licence to import from the CFIA

When it's time to import 
Step 7: Provide the CFIA with information about each of your shipments

After you've imported 
Step 8: Keep traceability records
Step 9: Preventive control plan maintain it
Step 10: Implement a recall and complaints procedure

Food Safety Magazine
https://www.foodsafetymagazine.com/news/canadae28099s-new-food-safety-regulations/
Canada’s New Food Safety Regulations
By Staff
News | January 22, 2019
Last week, the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) went into effect with an official announcement from the Honorable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Canada’s Minister of Health.

The new food safety regulations, which Canadian Food Inspection Agency says are consistent with international standards, focus on prevention, along with speedy removal of unsafe food products from the marketplace. The regulations also grant Canada more opportunities to export their food products abroad. Finally, the new regulations will aim to diminish unnecessary administrative burden by replacing 14 previous sets of laws into just one.

Now, under SFCR, Canadian food companies that either import or prepare food for export to food that is sent across provincial/territorial boundaries must have a license to do so. In order to continue trading with the U.S., SFCR does allow businesses to provide proof--via a license--that they meet requirements under the Food Safety Modernization Act’s Foreign Supplier Verification Program. Another requirement under SFCR is that food businesses must have preventive controls in place that clearly identify steps that address potential food safety risks, and controls that can trace food products anywhere along the food supply chain.

Parts of SFCR got into effect immediately, while others will take anywhere from 12 to 30 months to implement. Canadian food companies can consult the SFCR timeline to determine if the regulations apply to them, and when they must be in compliance.

Government of Canada News Release
https://www.canada.ca/en/food-inspection-agency/news/2019/01/new-regulations-on-food-safety-come-into-force-today.html
New regulations on food safety come into force today
From: Canadian Food Inspection Agency
News release

Canadians want to know that the food on their table is safe to eat.

January 15, 2019, Ottawa, ON

The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, announced that the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) came into effect today, ushering in a new era of food safety for Canadians.

The regulations are consistent with international standards and make Canada's food safety system even stronger by focusing on prevention and allowing for faster removal of unsafe food from the marketplace.

These new rules also mean greater market access opportunities for Canadian food products exported abroad. In addition, they will reduce the unnecessary administrative burden placed on businesses by replacing 14 sets of regulations with one.

Under the SFCR, 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.

While some requirements enter into force immediately, others will be phased in over the following 12-30 months, depending on the food commodity, type of activity and business size. Business owners are encouraged to consult the sector-specific timelines on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency website to determine if and when new requirements apply to them.

The United States has recently made it a requirement for all Canadian businesses that export food to meet their new food safety standards. The SFCR will permit Canadian food businesses to acquire a licence that demonstrates that they meet the requirements under the U.S. Foreign Supplier Verification Program so that they can continue trading with the United States.
Quick facts
  • If a business currently has a previous registration or licence with the CFIA, it will remain valid under the SFCR until it expires, even if the date of expiry of the renewed registration or licence occurs after January 15, 2019 (provided there is a statement on it indicating that it is also a licence under the Safe Food for Canadians Act).
  • The Canadian Food Inspection Agency consulted extensively on the proposed regulations, starting in 2013. Canadians were invited to provide comments via the Canada Gazette in January 2017.
  • Businesses need to sign up for My CFIA to apply for a Safe Food for Canadians licence. My CFIA is a convenient and secure way to do business with the CFIA 24 hours a day/7 days a week.

Importing food: A step-by-step guide

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