The Canadian government has passed the Safe Food for Canadians Act, S-11, which has been designed to modernize, consolidate and add consistency to the country’s food inspection system.
The bill was tabled in the Senate in June. It passed a third reading unanimously on 20 November and only royal approval remains before the bill becomes law.
The Safe Food for Canadians Act would improve food safety by allowing tougher penalties for activities that put the health and safety of Canadians at risk; a more consistent inspection regime across all food commodities; better control over imports and exports; and strengthened food traceability.
Together, these measures are expected to help find products faster in recall situations so they can be removed from the shelves quicker and in a more comprehensive way.
Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz said that the passage of the Safe Food for Canadians Act will offer better protection to Canadian families.
"The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will have stronger modernized tools to better protect Canadians and enhance industry compliance," Ritz added.
