The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) conducts on-site verifications in foreign establishments that manufacture food for export to Canada. The main objectives of these verifications are to:
- observe how the manufactured food products meet Canadian import requirements or provide the same level of food safety as compared to what is expected from food manufactured in Canada
- promote compliance to Canadian requirements with trading partners and foreign food safety authorities
- gather information to further address the risks associated with imported foods and help better refine the import surveillance work within Canada
Foreign establishment verifications are one of many food inspection tools used by the CFIA to improve food safety. Other measures include audits and assessments of the food safety systems of Canada's trading partners, technical assistance activities conducted with developing countries, inspection and compliance verification of food manufacturers and importers in Canada, sampling activities, and border controls on imported food.
Foreign establishment verifications allow the CFIA to collaboratively and proactively build on existing relationships with other foreign food safety authorities to ensure the safety of products exported to Canada.