Canadian food safety plan rolled out

May 17, 2013

Agriculture Minister announces Safe Food for Canadians Action Plan

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz unveiled the Harper Government’s Safe Food for Canadians Action Plan in Saskatoon on Friday. The new food safety plan seeks to strengthen food safety rules and lays out a plan for enhanced inspection.

Ritz said that the Action Plan is just one of the steps that the government is taking to ensure that Canada’s food system continues to provide safe food for consumers. “Food safety is priceless,” explains Ritz when asked about how much this new regulatory change will cost. The Minister says that there isn’t really a cost involved, noting that its work that’s being done now, but the new changes will allow for greater transparency and bring about more efficiency. Under the new plan, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will be making some notable changes over the next two years. One of the biggest initiatives includes the agency working with consumer and industry stakeholders to draft new regulations that will be covered under the act.

Some key changes that are scheduled to kick-in fairly soon, include strengthened beef safety rules with new requirements that will work towards intensifying the control of E. coli in federally inspected beef plants. Additionally, by July 2, 2013 federally-registered plants that produce certain beef cuts that are mechanically tenderized like steaks or roasts will be required to label those products as “tenderized” and include cooking instructions. Health Canada will also require mandatory labels to identify beef that’s been mechanically tenderized. Until now, it’s only been a voluntary practice.

More information about the Action Plant can be found on the CFIA website at: www.inspection.gc.ca/safefood.

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