Transition Materials for President

January 2024

• Overview
  • About the CFIA
  • Ministerial and Presidential Authorities Under the CFIA Act and Program Legislation
  • CFIA Acts and Regulations
  • CFIA Organizational Structure
  • CFIA's Governance Structure
  • CFIA and AAFC Responsibilities in International Trade
  • Federal-Provincincal-Territorial Landscape
• CFIA Key Responsibilities
  • Food Safety
  • Plant Health
  • Animal Health
  • International Trade
  • CFIA Program Delivery
  • Emergency Management at CFIA
  • CFIA Food Incident Response Process
• Human Resources and Finance
  • CFIA's Financial Situation
    • CFIA – Setting the Context
    • CFIA Resources Overview
    • CFIA Spending Trend
  • CFIA Demographic Picture
  • CFIA Separate Employer Status

Overview

With a vision to excel as a science-based regulator, trusted and respected by Canadians and the international community, the CFIA is dedicated to safeguarding food, animals and plants, which enhances the health and well-being of Canada's people, environment and economy.

About the CFIA

Mission: Dedicated to safeguarding food, animals and plants, which enhances the health and well-being of Canada's people, environment, and economy.

Core responsibilities

• Food Safety: Safeguard Canada's food supply, minimize health and safety risks to Canadians, and contributes to consumer protection
• Plant Health: Protect Canada's plant resource base, environment, and plant-related industries
• Animal Health: Protect Canada's animal resource base and Canadians from diseases, minimize risks to Canada's terrestrial and aquatic animal resource base, and ensure the safety of animal feeds, products, and vaccines
• International Trade: Facilitate market access for Canada's plants, animals, and food

Legislative mandate

Develop and deliver inspection and other services to:

• Prevent and manage food safety risks (e.g., food recalls)
• Protect plant resources from pests, diseases, and invasive species (e.g., emerald ash borer)
• Prevent and manage animal diseases (e.g., African swine fever (ASF), bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), chronic wasting disease (CWD), etc.), which sometime also threaten human health (e.g., Avian influenza)
• Contribute to consumer protection (e.g., labelling claims, food fraud)
• Facilitate market access for Canada's food, plants, and animals
• Conduct innovative research to make science-based decisions

Division of Responsibilities between Ministers

Minister of Health

Responsible for:

• Overall direction of the CFIA
• Establish policies and standards related to the safety and nutritional quality of food sold in Canada and assess the effectiveness of the Agency's activities related to food safety
• Food safety:
  • Food and Drugs Act
  • Safe Food for Canadians Act

Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food

Responsible for:

• The non-food safety legislation administered and enforced by the CFIA, including the facilitation of market access, animal health and plant protection
• The administration and enforcement of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act and the following:
  • Plants: Fertilizers Act, Plant Protection Act, Seeds Act and Plant Breeders' Rights Act
  • Animals: Feeds Act and Health of Animals Act
  • Non-food safety: elements of Safe Food for Canadians Act and Food and Drugs Act

Key CFIA partners

• Provincial and territorial governments (primarily Health and Agriculture departments)
• Federal departments and agencies (e.g., AAFC, HC, PHAC, ECCC, GAC, DFO, CBSA)
• Industry (e.g., Canadian Meat Council, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Canadian Produce Marketing Association, Canadian Poultry and Egg Producers Council, Food, Health and Consumer Products of Canada)
• Non-government organizations (e.g., Justice for Animals, Équiterre)
• International Trading Partners (e.g., U.S., China, E.U., India)
• Consumers

Ministerial and Presidential Authorities Under the CFIA Act and Program Legislation

Relevant legistion

• Agriculture and Agri-food Administrative and Monetary Penalties Act
• Feeds Act
• Fertilizers Act
• Health of Animals Act
• Plant Breeders' Rights Act
• Plant Protection Act
• Safe Food for Canadians Act
• Seeds Act
• Food and Drugs Act (as it relates to food, per ss.11(2)

Minister of Health

Responsibility and overall direction of the CFIA and all the powers, duties, functions under the CFIA Act (except the power to delegate under section 4(2)) and the food safety related provisions

• Powers/duties/functions under CFIA Act
  • All of the powers, duties and functions under the CFIA Act except the power to delegate under (4(2) CFIA Act in relation to non-food safety provisions in program legislation
• Power duties functions under other acts of Parliament administered or enforced by CFIA
  • Any Act of Parliament administered or enforced by CFIA related to food safety
• Power over actions taken by CFIA officials
  • Overall attenuated responsibility for actions of CFIA officials
• Power to develop policy and to recommend making of regulations
  • Any Act of Parliament administered or enforced by CFIA related to food safety

Minister of Agriculture and Agri-food

Powers not related to food safety

• Powers/duties/functions under CFIA Act
  • No powers retained under the CFIA Act except the power to delegate under subsection 4(2) of the CFIA Act in relation to powers, duties, functions under any act or provision that the Agency enforces by virtue of section 11 if they do not relate to food safety
• Power duties functions under other acts of Parliament administered or enforced by CFIA
  • Any act of Parliament administer of enforces by CFIA related to food safety
• Power over actions taken by CFIA officials
  • Powers/duties/functions exercised by CFIA officials under section 33 of the Health of Animals Act and section 22 of Plant Protection Act
• Power to develop policy and to recommend making of regulations

  • If the subject relates to plant or animal health including the humane transportation and the humane treatment of animals

    NOTE: Legal services would need to look more closely at every Act to ensure any statement beyond "other than food safety is accurate"

President of the CFIA

Chief Executive Officer of the CFIA

• Powers/duties/functions under CFIA Act
  • CFIA Act 6 (1): The President is the Chief Executive Officer of the Agency and has supervision over and direction of its staff. The President has the rank and all the powers of the deputy head of a department
• Power duties functions under other acts of Parliament administered or enforced by CFIA
  • Powers expressly given to the President under any Act of Parliament administered and enforced by the CFIA or delegated to the President by the responsible Minister under the CFIA Act or any Act of Parliament administered or enforced by the CFIA
• Power over actions taken by CFIA officials
  • Direct responsibility for CFIA officials
• Power to develop policy and to recommend making of regulations
  • No direct powers – responsible for advancing proposals to Minister for consideration

CFIA Acts and Regulations

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the following 10 acts and over 20 regulations:

1. Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act
   • Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations
2. Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act
   • Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fees Notice
3. Feeds Act
   • Feeds Regulations, 1983
4. Fertilizers Act
   • Fertilizers Regulations
5. Food and Drugs Act (as it relates to food)
   • Food and Drug Regulations
6. Health of Animals Act
   • Compensation for Certain Birds Destroyed in British Columbia (Avian Influenza) Regulations
   • Compensation for Destroyed Animals Regulations
   • Export Inspection & Certification Exemption Regulations
   • Hatchery Regulations
   • Hatchery Exclusion Regulations *(repeal anticipated February 2024)
   • Health of Animals Regulations
   • Reportable Diseases Regulations
7. Plant Breeders' Rights Act
   • Plant Breeders' Rights Regulations
8. Plant Protection Act
   • Eggplants and Tomatoes Production (Central Saanich) Restriction Regulations
   • Golden Nematode Order
   • Asian Long-horned Beetle Compensation Regulations
   • Plant Protection Regulations
   • Plum Pox Virus Compensation Regulations, 2004
   • Potato Production and Sale (Central Saanich) Restriction Regulations
   • Potato Wart Compensation Regulations, 2003
9. Safe Food for Canadians Act
   • Safe Food for Canadians Regulations
10. Seeds Act
    • Seeds Regulations
    • Weed Seeds Order, 2016

CFIA Organizational Structure

Senior Executives

Paul MacKinnon
President,
Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Jean-Guy (J.-G) Forgeron
Executive Vice-President,
Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Delivery of CFIA mandate

Robert Ianiro
Vice-President, Policy and Programs

Provides strategic policy advice and sets out program policies and procedures

David Nanang
Vice-President, Science Branch

Provides scientific advice and diagnostic and testing services

Diane Allan
Associate Vice-President, Policy and Programs

Provides strategic policy advice and sets out program policies and procedures

Debbie Beresford-Green
Vice-President, Operations Branch

Delivers inspection programs and takes compliance and enforcement action

Scott Rattray
A/Associate Vice-President, Operations

Delivers inspection programs and takes compliance and enforcement action

Todd Cain
Vice-President, Digital Services Branch and Chief Information Officer

Delivers on major projects and priority change initiatives and enables information and information technology

Shared services with AAFC

Kathleen Donohue
Assistant Deputy Minister, International Affairs Branch

Leads on market access and international regulatory trade issues

Corporate Services

Dr. Raman Srivastava
Vice-President, Human Resources

Enables talent identification, acquisition and mobilization

Stanley Xu
Vice-President,Corporate Management and Chief Financial Officer

Provides oversight of financial management and assets and security management

Martin Rubenstein
Chief Audit Executive and Head of Evaluation, Audit & Evaluation

Provides evidence-based advice and assurance to senior management

Todd Cain
Vice-President, Digital Services Branch and Chief Information Officer

Delivers on major projects and priority change initiatives and enables information and information technology

Jane Hazel
Vice-President, Communications and Public Affairs

Delivers internal and external communication services

Shared services with AAFC

Kristine Allen
Executive Director and Senior General Counsel, Legal Services

Provides legal services to the CFIA and AAFC

CFIA's Governance Structure

Description for governance structure

Note: CFIA's governance is currently undergoing review

Committees reporting directly to the President – outside of Agency Governance

• Departmental Audit Committee
• Legal Risk Management Committee
• Performance Measurement and Evaluation Committee
• Administrative Investigations Oversight Committee

Tier 1: Strategic direction and ongoing oversight for Agency's management and priorities

Tier 2: Horizontal corporate, policy, programs and business planning

Tier 3: Business Line tactical and strategic planning Implementation and Oversight

• Tier 1
  • President
  • Senior Management Committee
    Chair: president
    • Tier 2
      • Policy and Planning Committee
        Chair: Executive Director, Policy and Programs Branch
        Vice-Chair: Executive Director, Corporate Management Branch
        • Tier 3
          • Animal Health Business Line Management Board
            Chair: Executive Director Policy and Programs Branch
            Vice-chair Executive Director Operations
          • Food Business Line Management Board
            Chair: Executive Director Policy and Programs Branch
            Vice-chair Executive Director Operations
          • Plant Business Line Management Board
            Chair: Executive Director Policy and Programs Branch
            Vice-chair: Executive Director Operations
      • Corporate Governance Committee
        Co-Chairs: Vice-President Operations & Vice-President Corporate Management Branch
        • Tier 3
          • Change Management Committee
            Co-Chairs: Executive Director Digital Services Branch, Executive Director Operations
          • People, Project & Financial Management Committee
            Chair: Executive Director Corporate Management Branch,
            Vice Chair: Executive Director Human Resources
          • Branch Executive Committees
            Chair: Branch Head
          • Information Governance Committee
            Chair: Chief Data and Risk Officer,
            Co-chair: Executive Director Policy and Programs Branch
          • Results Committee
            Co-Chairs Chief Audit Executive & Executive Director Corporate Management Branch

CFIA and AAFC Responsibilities in International Trade

Context

The Government of Canada is a signatory to international agreements that confer rights and obligations, including in areas within the CFIA's and AAFC's remit.

AAFC Role

• Leads on negotiations of Agriculture chapters and elements of World Trade Organization (WTO), Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and new regional/bilateral FTAs
• Engages with partners and institutions, multilaterally and bilaterally, to address trade issues and to collaborate in areas of common interests (e.g. science, environment)
• Advances and resolves market access issues via a Single Window to manage industry requests and coordinate the Federal Market Access Team (AAFC, CFIA and GAC) to advance Canada's trade interests internationally through a whole of government approach
• Offers and provides programs and services (Canada Brand, Canadian Pavilion Program, Agri-Marketing, Agri-Trade Commissioner Service) to promote Canada as a supplier of choice

CFIA Role

• Leads engagement at International standard setting bodies (World Organization for Animal Health, CODEX (International food standards, codes and guidelines), International Plant Protection Convention) to influence the development of policy and promote the adoption of science based standards and guidelines to facilitate trade
• Co-leads with GAC, the negotiation of the Sanitary and Phytosanitary (SPS) chapters of bilateral FTAs to protect food safety, plant and animal health while facilitating trade
• Advocates for open, science based trade to maintain and protect food security, plant and animal health in Canada and globally
• Negotiates and certifies the import and export requirements for trade in plant, animal, food (including seafood/fish and wood products) with Foreign Competent Authorities

Partnerships

Federal

• Market Development, Trade: GAC
• Food Security: HC, Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC), PHAC, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), GAC, ECCC
• Supply chains: Transport Canada (TC), Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)
• Regulatory system: ECCC, Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat (TBS), PHAC, HC, Pest Management Advisory Council (PMAC)
• Seafood and aquaculture: DFO

Provinces and Territories

• Federal Provincial Agriculture Trade Policy Committee, Federal Provincial Market Development Council

Sector Stakeholders

• Cross sector (e.g. Canadian Federation of Agriculture, Canadian Agri Food Trade Alliance)
• National sector (e.g. Canadian Cattle Association, Canola Council of Canada, Canadian Meat Council, etc.)

Top Exports in 2022

• Forestry products and logs^{Footnote 1}: $25.5B
• Cereals: $13.1B
• Oilseeds: $10.5B
• Meat and offal: $9.3B
• Cereal preparations (flour, starch, etc.): $7.9B
• Edible vegetables: $7.7B

Top Imports in 2022

• Forestry products and logs^{Footnote 1}: $5.2B
• Beverages and spirits: $8.6B
• Edible fruits and nuts: $7.3B
• Cereal preparations (flour, starch, etc.): $5.2B
• Edible Vegetables: $4.8B
• Misc edible preparations: $4.7B

Key Trade Issues

United States

• Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA) dairy Tariff Rate Quotas (TRQ) dispute
• Voluntary Product of USA
• California Proposition 12, Farm Animal Confinement
• Potato Wart/PEI

China

• Atypical BSE
• Decrees 248/249 (CIFER) registration
• HPAI pet food
• Ongoing delays for approval of establishments and products

European Union

• EU Green Deal/Farm to Fork Strategy (F2F), and the EU focus on sustainable production and environment
• Non tariff barriers to trade (e. g. Regulations on pesticides, veterinary medicines, labelling, meat, and deforestation free supply chains)

In 2022, agri-food and seafood exports exceeded $92 billion, a 12.6% increase from 2021.

Top 5 Agri-food and Seafood Export Markets in 2022

1. USA: $54.7B (59%)
2. China: $9.5B (10.3%)
3. Japan: $5.3B (5.8%)
4. EU: $4.4B (4.8%)
5. Mexico: $2.9B (3.2%)

Top 5 Agri-food and Seafood Import Markets in 2022

1. USA: $36.4B (54.2%)
2. EU: $7.4B (11%)
3. Mexico: $3.8B (5.7%)
4. China: $2.3B (3.5%)
5. Brazil: $1.4B (2.2%)

Federal-Provincincal-Territorial Landscape

Overarching FPT landscape

• Nova Scotia assumed Chair of the Council of the Federation (COF) in August 2023. COF's key current areas of focus include affordability, housing, sustainable infrastructure, and health care
• East/West and rural/urban political divides entrenched
• Constitutional issues remain at the forefront (Sakatechwan First Act (Sept. 23), Alberta Sovereignty within a United Canada Act (Dec. 22))

CFIA Context

• CFIA reports to Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food on economic, trade, plant and animal health issues, and to Minister of Health on food safety
• Jurisdiction over agriculture is shared between the federal and provincial governments (s. 95, Constitution Act, 1867); the federal government has jurisdiction over international and interprovincial trade (subs. 91(2))
• CFIA mandate extends to aquatics, forestry and the environment; may need to engage with more than one ministry in each PT

Key FPT engagement at the CFIA

Multilateral

• Support for FPT Ministers, Deputy Ministers and Assistant Deputy Ministers of Agriculture.
  • VP, Policy and Programs Branch, co-chairs the FPT Regulatory Assistant Deputy Ministers Committee
  • PPB houses the FPT Regulatory Assistant Deputy Ministers Secretariat
• CFIA participates in multilateral health discussions through the Public Health Network Council, FPT Food Safety Committee, and the Chief Medical Officers of Health
• Officials from PPB, Science Branch, and Operations Branch also participate in numerous FPT working groups and multidisciplinary networks that include academic, science and industry representatives

Bilateral

• Operations Branch leads CFIA bilateral engagement with PTs on program and operational issues across food, plant and animal health business lines

FPT multilateral priorities

• FPT Ministers of Agriculture's November 2021 Guelph Statement endorsed five priorities: climate change/environmental protection; science, research and innovation; domestic and international trade; value-added agri-food and agri-products; and enhanced resiliency to respond to risk
• CFIA supports FPT discussions on Animal Disease Preparedness and Response (Foot and Mouth Disease Vaccine Bank, African Swine Fever, Avian Influenza), Internal Trade, Bee Shortages, Potato Wart
• FPT Regulatory ADMs' priorities:
  • Emergency Management: strengthening partnerships to proactively manage risks to Canada's food safety system, and plant and animal health
  • Internal Trade: collaboration to enhance regulatory flexibility and innovation to enable interprovincial trade through pilot projects:
    • Lloydminster: to allow AB and SK businesses to sell safe foods into/within Lloydminster, but not beyond the city. Regulatory amendments to move forward in Feb. 2024.
    • Slaughter availability (with ON, QC): exploring options to allow animal producers in remote locations to use a local slaughter facility in a bordering province
    • Ready to Grow (with ON): options for provincially-regulated meat producers seeking to explore market opportunities in another province
    • Indigenous communities (anticipated) (with MB, ON): to explore food production and movement within an Indigenous community that straddles the provincial border

Managing FPT relations: CFIA considerations

• Multilateral: Opportunity to continue to strengthen and broaden CFIA's strategic input to discussions among FPT Deputy Ministers and Ministers of Agriculture. PTs are keenly interested in
• Bilateral: Agency's capacity is challenged in working directly with PTs on urgent operational issues (e.g., Avian Influenza, Potato Wart) while also preparing for emerging threats (e.g., African Swine Fever, Foot and Mouth Disease)
• Internal: Opportunity to strengthen coordination and information sharing among Branches; develop a Domestic Engagement Strategy for the Agency

CFIA Key Responsibilities

Plant Health, Animal Health, Food Safety, International Trade

A regulator to enforce food, animal and plantrelated Acts and regulations set by Health Canada and Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada.

A risk manager to mitigate diverse public risks related to public health, economics, and environment.

A facilitator to improve the regulatory interface with industry and trading partners.

Food Safety

Safeguard Canada's food supply

• Includes health and safety and labelling
• Administering and enforcing Safe Food for Canadians Regulations, Food and Drugs Act, and Food and Drug Regulations (as it relates to food safety) that Health Canada establishes
• Shared responsibility between CFIA, industry, international partners, Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada, and municipal, provincial and territorial authorities

Minimize health and safety risks to Canadians by:

• Protecting Canadians from preventable food safety hazards
• Managing food safety investigations and recalls effectively

Contributes to consumer protection by:

• Verifying information provided to Canadian consumers through labels and advertising is truthful and not misleading

Plant Health

Protect Canada's plant resource base

• Includes crops, horticulture, nurseries, forest resources and products, greenhouses, seeds, fertilizers, plants with novel traits

Protect Canada's plant resource base, environment, and plant-related industries by:

• Preventing the introduction and spread of pests that could damage Canadian production and the income of Canadian producers
• Verifying farmers have access to safe, effective and innovative agricultural inputs (e.g., seed, fertilizer) that support environmental sustainability
• Fostering innovation through protection of intellectual property (e.g., plant breeders' rights)
• Maintaining the reputation of Canadian agricultural products in the global marketplace as being high-quality, pest free, and safe

Animal Health

Protect Canada's animal resource base and Canadians from diseases

Minimize risks to Canada's terrestrial and aquatic animal resource base, and ensure the safety of animal feeds, products, and vaccines by:

• Protecting Canada's animals, including aquatic animals, from diseases
• Managing animal disease incidents and emergencies (e.g., ASF, BSE, CWD, etc.), including diseases that also threatens human health (e.g., Avian influenza, coronaviruses, etc.)
• Promoting and regulating animal welfare, in transportation and in slaughter
• Verifying that animal feeds and vaccines are safe and effective

International Trade

Facilitate market access for Canada's plants, animals, and food

Contribute to market access for Canadian agriculture and agri-food by:

• Issuing export certificates, import permits, and conducting inspection and lab testing for imports and exports
• Influencing the development of international rules and standards for plant protection, animal health, and food safety through international standard-setting bodies
  • World Organisation for Animal Health (WOAH)
  • Codex Alimentarius Commission (CODEX) (Food)
  • International Plant Protection Convention (IPPC)
• Engaging trading partners to negotiate import/export conditions and technical agreements and standards
• Working in collaboration with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Global Affairs Canada

CFIA Program Delivery

The CFIA's programs deliver on the Agency's mandate to help ensure food is safe and accurately represented to Canadians, that plant and animal resources are protected from pests and disease and are safe for Canadians and the environment, and that food, plant and animal products can be traded internationally.

CFIA's laboratory network

Western lab network (172 FTE)

• Sidney (Plant Health)
• Burnaby (Food Safety)
• Calgary (Food Safety)
• Saskatoon (Animal Health, Food Safety, Plant Health)

Eastern lab network (171 FTE)

• Longueuil (Food Safety)
• Saint-Hyacinthe (Animal Health, Food Safety)
• Charlottetown (Plant Health)
• Dartmouth (Food Safety)

Ontario lab network (231 FTE)

• Greater Toronto Area (Food Safety)
• Ottawa Fallowfield (Animal Health, Food Safety, Plant Health)
• Ottawa Carling (Animal Health, Food Safety, Plant Health)

National Centres for Animal Disease (123 FTE)

• Lethbridge (Animal Health)
• Winnipeg (Animal Health)

National Headquarters (215 FTE)

Our stakeholders

Domestic

• Regulated parties
  • Farmers, producers, processors, operators, plant breeders, growers, importers and exporters, transporters
• Partners
  • Provinces and territories
  • Government partners (e.g., AAFC, PHAC, HC, etc.)
  • Indigenous businesses, leaders and communities

International

• Trading partners, foreign competent authorities, international standard setting bodies

CFIA Program Development

• Sets rules and regulatory framework: CFIA develops the Acts and Regulations governing food safety, animal health, and plant health, and continuously seeks opportunities to optimize its regulatory framework
• Provides advice and guidance: CFIA provides guidance to industry and the Inspectorate, strategic advice in relation to legislation, and direction based on risk management activities to inform CFIA's risk-based decision making
• Ensures compliance verification and promotion: CFIA designs inspection and enforcement programs and conducts educational and awareness campaigns to support industry compliance and public awareness
• Establishes permission requirements: CFIA is responsible for permissions, such as permits, licences, certificates, approvals, and their requirements for the implementation of import, domestic and export programs that the Agency administers
• Enables regulatory cooperation and stakeholder engagement: CFIA works with stakeholders, including other government departments and trading partners, to support alignment of regulatory requirements and policy positions
• Supports market access: CFIA actively participates and leads technical discussions in trade negotiations to facilitate market access for Canadian food, animal and plant products

Outcomes

Operational Delivery

• Provides front-line inspection and audit functions
• Collects samples for surveillance and marketplace monitoring
• Conducts quality assurance and monitoring of programs
• Issues import, export and domestic permissions
• Carries out enforcement activities on non-compliance
• Undertakes incident and emergency response
• Assesses and provides feedback to program to inform regulatory and program re-design

Scientific Expertise and Laboratory Supports

• Provides scientific advice to support sound regulatory decisions
• Provides risk assessment, risk intelligence and foresight
• Provides laboratory services in support of program design and delivery
• Conducts regulatory research and method development
• Develops surveys and robust surveillance programs
• Establishes biocontainment standards for labs and oversight of pathogen import programs
• Strengthens the Agency's role as a credible and reliable global science leader

International Trade

• Works in partnership with AAFC, Global Affairs Canada, and other departments to negotiate and implement free trade agreements
• Actively participates in international standards setting bodies and works with like-minded countries to set priorities and develop international standards
• Negotiates and implements import requirements and certifies export requirements for food, animal and plant products within the parameters of our international trade obligations and international standards
• Manages foreign audits and missions related to sanitary and phytosanitary controls

Emergency Management at CFIA

Mandate on Emergency Response

The CFIA is responsible for the management of two types of emergencies:

1. Mandate-specific (food safety, animal or plant health emergencies) and
2. Non-mandate-specific (infrastructure or other public welfare emergencies)

CFIA activates an emergency response plan when the required response is expected to exceed normal operational capacities or is particularly complex and requires enhanced coordination and communication.

• Prevent and Mitigate: Import requirements and restrictions, vaccination strategy development, national biosecurity standards, risk intelligence, and other tools/strategies
• Prepare: Table top / simulation exercises, clear roles and responsibilities, hazard specific plans, area response networks
• Respond: Use of Incident Command Structure (ICS) and national/regional emergency operations centres, communication and information sharing, international efforts
• Recover: Regain market access through international negotiations. Ongoing monitoring to demonstrate the disease/pest/hazard status in Canada and compensation to encourage ongoing reporting

Key Stakeholders and Roles in an Emergency

Emergency response requires multiple different organizations to work alongside each other effectively. In a federally reportable disease controlled by the CFIA, the CFIA is considered to be a primary stakeholder with overarching legislative authority for the disease response measures. Other key stakeholders:

• Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FPT) Partners: Provincial agriculture and health ministries (e.g. animal welfare, land use, on farm/landfill environmental jurisdiction, epidemiology), public health units (e.g. epidemiology, recall check support), provincial environment ministries (e.g. disposal and wild non-migratory animal populations) and federal partners (AAFC: producer/industry support; ECCC: wild migratory animal populations, HC/PHAC: risk assessment and epidemiology for food; DFO: fisheries; NRCan-CFS: forestry, etc.
• Industry Stakeholders: National and provincial industry associations (e.g., Feather boards and poultry producer associations, Canadian Pork Council, Canadian Cattle Association, Horticultural council, Retail Council of Canada, Animal Health Canada, etc.) support effective communication with members, information sharing and preparedness/recovery efforts.
• Indigenous Groups: CFIA conducts "peacetime" outreach to Indigenous groups and maintains an Indigenous liaison officer during emergency response with an effort to effectively communicate, mitigate impacts and respect federal obligations (e.g. control zones overlapping with reserve territory, species management impacting traditional hunting grounds, or impact on traditional crop production etc.)
• Scientists / researchers: Detection and surveillance, epidemiology, analysis and development of new scientific methods
• Consumers / public: Clear communication during all stages of the emergency is necessary to inform consumers, provide any required direction and instill confidence

Past and Current Emergency Responses

Examples include:

• Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza: 2014 (British Columbia), 2015 (Ontario), 2016 (Ontario), 2022/24 (National)
• Bovine spongiform encephalopathy: 2015 (Alberta), 2021 (Alberta)
• Oak Wilt: 2023 (Ontario)
• Potato Wart: 2021 (Prince Edward Island)
• Bovine Tuberculosis: 2016 (Alberta), 2018 (British Columbia), 2023 (Saskatchewan)
• Asian Longhorned Beetle: 2013 (Ontario)
• E. coli O157:H7: 2012 (AB)
• Listeria monocytogenes: 2008 (National)

Case Study: 2022-24 Avian Influenza Outbreak

• Detection: First detected in wild birds in Newfoundland (Dec 2021), before spreading throughout Canada in 2022 in all provinces except PEI. Since that time there have been seasonal peaks of cases with each wild bird migratory period (spring and fall)
• Response: Over 10.9 million (M) domestic birds affected, >415 Infected Premises (IPs) to date, and more than 2000 CFIA employees engaged
• Recovery: Over $185M paid in compensation to producers to date
• Lessons learned: Key lessons are emerging related to leadership, roles & responsibilities, capacity, training, consistency, communication, and health & safety
• Prevention and Preparation for the future: Increased surveillance and One Health collaborative approach is required due to potential for spread in mammals, including humans

CFIA Food Incident Response Process

Overview

All food sold in Canada, whether domestic or imported, must comply with Canada's federal Acts and regulations, be safe to eat and not be misrepresented.

When there is reason to believe that food is unsafe or does not follow federal regulations, the CFIA initiates a 5 step process to investigate and determine if a food recall is necessary

Recall definition and classes

A food recall is the removal of a food from further sale or use, or the correction of its label, at any point in the supply chain as a risk mitigation action.

Recalls are classified by risk:

• Class 1: High risk for serious health problems or death (Food Recall Warning usually issued)
• Class 2: Moderate risk for short-term or non-life threatening health problems (Food Recall Warning may be issued)
• Class 3: Low risk for health problems (Food Recall Warning rarely issued)

All recalls are posted by the CFIA on the Government's Recalls and Safety Alerts website.

Food safety investigation and recall process

1. Trigger: Starts a food safety investigation (e.g. complaint, CFIA inspection activities, surveillance sample, company-initiated action)
2. Food Safety Investigation: To confirm the hazard and extent of the problem; identify the root cause; and collect information for a risk assessment
3. Risk Assessment: Determines the level of health risk posed by the product. Conducted either by Health Canada (HC) or within CFIA if a HC policy/guideline exists
4. Recall Process: CFIA determines if recall required and issues a recall warning where necessary. Recalling firm is responsible for conducting the recall. CFIA verifies the recall was effective. Additional (secondary) recalls may be required
5. Follow-up: CFIA works with the regulated party to ensure that any problems that led to the recall are resolved as well as with industry sectors or foreign countries to address broader incidents that go beyond one recalling firm or sector

The majority of food recalls are conducted by companies on a voluntary basis, either of their own volition or at the request of the CFIA

If a company refuses to conduct a recall, the Minister of Health can order a mandatory recall under Section 19 of the CFIA Act, where an order is served on the responsible firm. It can also be served on distributors and/or retailers.

There have only been seven mandatory recalls since the creation of the Agency; the last one being in 2004 for nitrofurans in Labonté brand natural honey

On average, each year:

• The CFIA conducts 2,848 food safety investigations
• There are 164 food recall incidents, which may lead to additional (secondary) recalls

Recent priority voluntary food recalls

• January 2024 – Granola products (Class 2)
• December 2023 – Infant formula (Class 1)
• November 2023 – Various brands of Cantaloupe (Class 2)
• July 2023 – Caffeinated energy drinks (Class 2)
• March 2023 – Infant Formula (Class 2)

Human Resources and Finance

CFIA's Financial Situation

CFIA – Setting the Context

• The CFIA currently manages a budget of $842 million (2023-24 Main Estimates)
• The Agency expenditures have two main envelopes: operating and capital
• Operating generally represents over 90% of the Agency's total resources
  • Over 80% of this envelope is dedicated to salaries
• Capital represents less than 10% of the Agency's resources and varies depending on time-limited funding for projects (e.g. construction of Sidney Plant Health Lab, e-Certification, etc.). The permanent capital budget is approximately $20M per year
  which is insufficient to cover the Agency's asset portfolio (i.e. real property, IT, fleet, and scientific equipment)
• The Agency manages emergencies (mainly animal disease or plant pest outbreak) with an annual budget of $5.8M. Emergency events in recent years, especially the ongoing national outbreak of Highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), have far exceeded the available budget and eroded the Agency's financial flexibility
• The Agency charges fees for some of the services it provides to industry and stakeholders, which it keeps as revenue (does not go into the Consolidated Revenue Fund)

CFIA Resources Overview (in millions)

CFIA Spending Trend

CFIA Demographic Picture

CFIA Separate Employer Status

• The CFIA is neither subject to the Public Employment Act (PSEA) nor the Treasury Board Terms and Conditions of Employment. The President's authority under the CFIA Act provides the President authority to exercise flexibility in human resources management
• However, as a Separate Employer (listed in Schedule V of the Financial Administration Act), the CFIA is similar to other Public Service organizations, in that it:
  • Reports to a Minister, who in turn is accountable to Parliament
  • Has many similar legal obligations to the rest of the Public Service, through the various acts applicable to it
  • Requires Treasury Board approval of its mandate for collective bargaining and expenditures
  • Has its staff represented by the two largest bargaining agents in the Public Service, i.e., Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and Professional Institute of the Public Service of Canada (PIPSC)
• Historically the Agency has sought to maintain alignment with relevant decisions and direction of the core public administration