The Canadian Food Inspection Agency will be creating sixteen targeted "Centres of Expertise" across Canada to provide industry and its own inspectors with improved, more consistent access to expert information and advice.

The announcement was made by Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz in Saskatoon yesterday.

"These Centres of Expertise will pool expertise and make it available through a single window," explained Ritz.

The centres, which are expected to be created over the next few years, will consolidate and co-locate experts for specific programs.

The changes are part of the CFIA's efforts to improve how it interacts with stakeholders and improve industry's understanding of federal regulations.

The information hub for grains & oilseeds, seed, plants with novel traits and fertilizer will be located in Saskatoon. The red meat slaughter and foreign animal disease and emergency management centres will be in Calgary.

Centre of Expertise	Location
Forestry	Burnaby, BC
Finfish	Burnaby, BC
Red Meat Slaughter	Calgary, AB
Foreign Animal Disease and Emergency Management	Calgary, AB
Grains & Oilseeds  Seed  Plants with Novel Traits  Fertilizer	Saskatoon, SK
Agri-foods and Non-federally Registered Products	Guelph, ON
Import/Export of Animals	Guelph, ON
Horticulture	Guelph, ON
Labelling and Claims	National Capital Region
Animal Feed	National Capital Region
Poultry Slaughter	ST-Hyacinthe, QC
Processed Meat and Poultry	ST-Hyacinthe, QC
Domestic Animal Disease and Animal Welfare	ST-Hyacinthe, QC
Shellfish	Moncton, NB
Aquatic Animal Health	Moncton, NB
Potatoes and Soil	Charlottetown, PEI

Source: PortageOnline