Safe Food for Canadians Act before the House of Commons

Nov 14, 2012

Safe Food for Canadians Act in its Final Review and Third Reading

The Safe Foods for Canadians Act – Bill S-11 that was put forward by the Harper Government and was tabled on June 7, 2012, seeks to strengthen and modernize the country’s food safety system is in its final stage for passage. The Act was adopted by the Senate on Oct. 17, 2012 and last week, the Agriculture and Agri-Food Standing Committee completed its final review and sent it to the House of Commons for its third reading.

The new food act would enhance the way food safety is administered in Canada and will allow inspection and enforcement powers to be consistent across all food commodities. It will also give more powers to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, providing them with more authority to address food safety risks.

The key highlights of the Act include:

• Have tougher penalties for activities that put food safety and human health at risk
• Enhanced control over imported food commodities
• Implement a more consistent and rigorous inspection process for food commodities
• Strengthen food traceability initiatives

The Act has been a long time in the making and was a result of a recommendation that was outlined in a report that was published in 2009 following the 2008 Listeriosis outbreak. The report recommended that the government modernize the federal legislation that is related to food safety. The act will be vital to ensure that both food safety and consumer confidence remains a priority.

Video: Season 6, Episode 10: Defining Resiliency and the Research Driving Swine Health Forward

Genetic research and new technologies continue to influence the future of swine health and production efficiency. In this episode, we explore how research and technology are being used to support stronger, more resilient pigs, while also improving overall production outcomes. In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Jenelle Dunkelberger, geneticist with Topigs Norsvin, to discuss both routine and emerging strategies for improving piglet, pig, and sow livability. She outlines two primary approaches to enhancing resiliency: gene editing and traditional selective breeding. Continuing the resiliency conversation, we also hear from Dr. Lucina Galina, director of technical research projects at the Pig Improvement Company. She shares insights into ongoing gene-editing work focused on PRRS, detailing the pathway to success, regulatory and practical considerations, and the questions that still remain as the technology evolves. Together, these conversations provide a closer look at how research, genetics and innovation are shaping the future of swine health and livability.