OTTAWA — The Honourable Ginette Petitpas Taylor, Minister of Health, announced the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) came into effect today, ushering in a new era of food safety for Canadians.
The new regulations are consistent with international standards and strengthen Canada’s food-safety system 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.
“By emphasizing prevention and faster removal of unsafe foods from the marketplace, the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations will build on Canada’s world-class food-safety system and go even further to protect Canadians,” says Petitpas Taylor.
Under the SFCR, businesses are also required to have preventive controls that outline steps to address potential risks to food safety, as well as to trace their food back to their supplier and forward to businesses who bought their products.
While some requirements come into force immediately, others will be phased in over the following 12 to 30 months, depending on the food commodity, type of activity and business size. Sector-specific timelines are available on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) website.
