On May 17, the Harper Government unveiled its Safe Food for Canadians Action Plan that aims to further improve Canada’s food-safety system by strengthening food safety rules, more effective inspection, a renewed commitment to service and more information for consumers.
Through the plan, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will launch a number of significant food- safety enhancements over the next two years. Most notably, CFIA will work with consumer groups and industry to develop new regulations that will bring into force the Safe Food for Canadians Act passed in November 2012.
As a first step, CFIA is strengthening some of its beef safety rules and has implemented new mandatory requirements that will strengthen the control of E. coli in federally-registered beef plants. By July 2, 2013, federally-registered plants that produce mechanically tenderized beef cuts, such as steaks or roasts, will be required to label those products as tenderized and with cooking instructions.
Health Canada also intends to propose broader mandatory labels to identify beef that has been mechanically tenderized at retail outlets like supermarkets. This voluntary practice has been in place since 2012.
CFIA also will launch a review of the food regulations in Canada that will need to be revised in order to bring the Safe Food for Canadians Act into force. It is expected this work will take up to two years. Active consumer and stakeholder engagement in the process will be important to the success of efforts to bring the new legislation into force.
