CFIA's Policy for Providing Guidance on Regulatory Requirements

This policy outlines the commitments, practices, and tools applied by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) when providing Canadians and businesses with information and guidance on meeting regulatory obligations. It also identifies the conditions under which the CFIA will provide written responses to enquiries.

Agency context

The CFIA's core responsibility is to protect Canadians by safeguarding Canada's food system and the plant and animal resources on which we depend, and supporting the Canadian economy through the trade of Canadian goods.

The CFIA is committed to being fair and consistent in the application of regulations. The CFIA will, to the extent possible, endeavour to provide information to assist regulated parties and stakeholders in understanding their regulatory obligations. The following describes the CFIA's commitments in the areas of building awareness of regulatory requirements, responding to enquiries, service and stakeholder engagement.

Plain language commitment

• The CFIA commits to have its regulations and guidance documents drafted in as plain language^Footnote 1 as possible, limiting the use of specialized or technical language to those instances where it is necessary
• The CFIA is committed to the publication of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) for all new or amended regulations that have business impacts. The CFIA has posted FAQs for its most accessed regulations^Footnote 2 to its website
• The CFIA is committed to publishing FAQs for the areas of improvement identified through stakeholder check-ins, as well as for recurring questions

Building an awareness of regulatory requirements

• The CFIA is committed to communicating regularly with Canadians and its stakeholders to promote awareness and understanding of regulatory compliance requirements, through compliance promotion activities and use of online consultation/surveys, webinars and town halls, to facilitate the continual development of regulations and guidance tools
• The CFIA is committed to developing products, such as guidance material, that are adapted to the needs of each regulated sector
• The CFIA is committed to improving the accessibility of information regarding regulations and policies for regulated parties by making greater use of centralized services where there is a benefit to regulated parties. For example, the CFIA is making regulatory guidance documents more accessible to stakeholders through its online Guidance Document Repository, a single repository for all guidance documents

Responding to enquiries

• The CFIA is committed to responding to inquiries by stakeholders and Canadians in, to the extent possible, plain language, and in a clear, consistent and professional manner, in the official language of inquirer's choice in accordance with the requirements found in the Official Languages Act (OLA), and the Agency's Policy on Official Languages, in the form that the enquiries are made, either orally or written, or as appropriate
• The CFIA commits to responding to enquiries in a timely manner. The CFIA strives to acknowledge receipt of enquiries within five business days. The CFIA does not provide legal advice to third parties about how specific regulations may apply to particular circumstances
• FAQs addressing recurring enquiries are posted to the CFIA's website

Service

Commitment to professional service

• The CFIA is committed to provide timely, professional, courteous, impartial and respectful service, in both official languages as appropriate. A modern, digital service strategy is a key priority at the CFIA
• As a science-based regulator, the CFIA commits to service excellence and ensuring industry understands its role, responsibilities and accountabilities through robust compliance promotion activities, and standardized, modern and user-friendly services. The CFIA strives for continuous improvement in its processes and practices

Accountability

• The CFIA provides services that are consistent with its regulatory obligations. The CFIA has published a Statement of Rights and Service for Producers, Consumers and Other Stakeholders, as well as six accompanying guides to inspection to offer stakeholders and CFIA staff a clear, plain language explanation of the CFIA's commitment to:
  • transparent decision making
  • accessible and timely information
  • fair, respectful and unbiased interactions with stakeholders; and
  • responsiveness and continuous improvement
• To support continuous improvement to regulatory program delivery, transparency and predictability, the Complaints and Appeals Office provides an avenue for stakeholders to register complaints and appeals related to quality of service, administrative errors and regulatory decisions

Staff training

• The CFIA continues to support employees by providing them with the necessary training to deliver high quality, professional services and to provide accurate, consistent and up-to-date information on regulatory requirements

Stakeholder engagement

As a regulator, the CFIA engages with stakeholders, including the following groups:

• Regulated parties: individual companies and, in some cases, academia, including Official Language Minority post-secondary institutions, and government institutions, including Industry Value Chain Round Tables and Industry led Advisory committees
• Non-governmental organizations: representative industry associations and groups, and other non-governmental organizations
• Indigenous and other cultural groups
• Canadians: including consumers and consumer associations and groups, and other non-regulated parties such as micro and small businesses
• Other federal government departments and other levels of government: provincial, territorial and municipal governments, as well as established Federal/Provincial/Territorial mechanisms
• International stakeholders: foreign governments, international organizations
• Official Languages Minority Community (OLMC) organizations and industry groups.

Commitment to stakeholder engagement

• The CFIA is committed to transparency, through the ongoing application of the Agency's Transparency in Regulatory Decision Making Policy
• The CFIA is committed to engaging and consulting with Canadians and other stakeholders, as appropriate, to understand their perspectives on significant regulatory, policy and program issues that impact them. To develop effective policies and strategies, the CFIA actively seeks out and values the perspectives of stakeholders who are affected by its decisions^Footnote 3

Stakeholder engagement practices

• The CFIA engages regularly with its stakeholders through a variety of mechanisms in the regulatory development process. The CFIA's Consultation Policy and Framework aims to improve transparency and reduce duplication of efforts through an integrated, coordinated and consistent consultation and engagement process. As example, to foster ongoing dialogue, the CFIA further leverages stakeholder involvement through:
  • Industry Value Chain Round Tables
  • Industry led Advisory committees
  • Federal/Provincial/Territorial mechanisms
• The CFIA take proactive measures to consult with Official Languages Minority Community organizations, where appropriate, and in keeping with its obligations under Part VII of the Official Languages Act related to the advancement of English and French
• Consultation opportunities can be found on CFIA's website and the Consulting with Canadians page on the website of the Government of Canada
• Stakeholders are also made aware of consultation opportunities through posting of the Forward Regulatory Plan on CFIA's website
• In addition to consultations, issues and concerns raised by regulated and non-regulated parties during ongoing contact are considered in the development of related materials and other additional outreach activities

Inquiries

For interpretation, clarification or inquiries regarding this policy please contact:

Director,
Regulatory, Legislative and Economic Affairs Division
Policy and Regulatory Affairs Directorate
Policy and Programs Branch
cfia.legislation-legislation.acia@inspection.gc.ca

Date of last revision of this policy

2019-03-14