The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has developed infographics and resources to help industry know what to expected when being inspected.
CFIA's inspection activities
An overview of the steps in the inspection process, including what happens before, during and after an inspection is available in the infographic: What to expect when you're inspected
Authority to order that documents, information and samples be provided in the food sector
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) inspects food businesses to assess whether they are in compliance with federal legislation as it relates to the food sector. To do so, the CFIA conducts inspection activities on-site at your establishment or off-site from a location other than your place of business or establishment. When conducting these inspections, the CFIA inspector may order your business to provide documents, information and samples.
Legal authority
Section 27 of the Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA) and subsection 22.1 (1) of the Food and Drugs Act (FDA) authorize a CFIA inspector to order that a person provide documents, information or samples needed to verify compliance or prevent non-compliance with legislative requirements. The inspector has the authority to order the documents, information and samples to be provided without needing to go to the place of business.
Pre-inspection
Before conducting an on-site or off-site inspection, the inspector may contact the food business using the contact information in its My CFIA account. The inspector will explain the scope of the inspection and indicate what information, documents or samples are required and how, when and where they should be provided. The inspector may require that you provide information during a conference call or send documents or information to their @inspection.gc.ca email address.
In most cases, the inspector tasked to conduct the inspection will be from your local region and you may already know them if you have any interactions with the CFIA. If you are unfamiliar with the inspector, you may contact your local CFIA Office or consult the Government Electronic Directory Service.
During the inspection
The inspector will review the documents, information and samples for the purpose of verifying compliance or preventing non-compliance with the applicable requirements set out under the SFCA, the FDA and their regulations. The inspector will follow the Standard inspection process, inspection procedures and the guidance to industry available on the CFIA website.
Protecting information
The CFIA understands the importance of protecting the information you provide to the inspector. The same controls and procedures apply to all documents, information and samples obtained by the inspector, including any material submitted by electronic means.
CFIA uses perimeter security devices such as layers of firewalls (email and web), antivirus software, network access restrictions, various encrypted volumes for file storage and security in place for specific applications to safeguard information from security breach. CFIA provides training to staff, including inspectors, on security principles and practices, including how to transport, transmit, store and destroy protected and classified information. Shared Services Canada and the Treasury Board of Canada have information available on how privacy and information is kept secure.
Non-compliance
A person who does not provide the material or does not comply with an order made by an inspector would be considered as being in non-compliance to the relevant act. For information about CFIA responses to non-compliance including enforcement, visit the CFIA's Compliance and enforcement web page.