PM Announces Canada’s New Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan

Prime Minister Stephen Harper last week announced the Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan, a comprehensive set of proposed new measures that will make Canadians safer by legislating tougher federal government regulation of food, health, and consumer products.

Speaking at the Salvation Army Christmas Toy Depot in Ottawa, Prime Minister Harper noted that there has been a sharp rise in the number of product recalls involving unsafe toys, food and drugs in recent years. “Canadians rightly expect their federal government to police the safety of the products they bring into their homes,” the Prime Minister said. “Today, I’m pleased to announce a plan that will significantly enhance our ability to do just that.”

The proposed legislation, to be introduced in the New Year, will transform the government’s approach to regulating product safety. For the first time in Canada, instead of merely reacting to problems, the regulations will be designed to prevent them. New measures will include:

• Mandatory product recalls when companies fail to act on legitimate safety concerns.

• Making importers responsible for the safety of goods they bring into Canada.

• Increasing maximum fines under the Food and Drug Act from $5,000 up to current international standards.

• Better safety information for consumers and guidance to industries on building safety throughout their supply chains.

“The Food and Product Safety Action Plan delivers on our Government’s commitment to building a stronger, safer, better Canada,” said Prime Minister Harper. “This plan will benefit all Canadians: it will improve our safety and health, reward responsible industry players, and enhance Canada’s reputation abroad as a country whose product safety standards are second to none.”

The Government will begin engaging consumer and industry stakeholders on how best to proceed with the Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan in the New Year.