(CFIA)
On Monday August 16, 2010 CFIA posted a consultation survey on the CFIA website signalling their intent to move forward with licensing of food importers. Importers of food and food ingredients that are regulated under the Food and Drugs Act will require a license and to be able to demonstrate that they have in place a food safety system that minimizes the risk of a food-borne incident being associated with the products that they import, and processes that ensure that the their products comply with the requirements of the Consumer Product Packaging and Labelling Act and Regulations.
The regulation will be established under the authority of the Agricultural Products Act and will apply to importers of products such as:
• alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages
• confectionery
• fats and oils
• infant formula
• coffee and tea
• cereals
• spices and seasonings
• juices
• bakery products
The regulation will not apply to importers of:
• processed fruits and vegetables
• meat and poultry
• dairy products
• egg products
• honey and maple products
• seafood
• fresh fruits and vegetables
• synthetic colours
• bottled water
CFIA intends to hold public consultations in Halifax, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto and Vancouver during September. Dates and details will be an announced when finalized.
The CFIA on line consultation survey, background material and question and answers can be found on the CFIA website. The consultation closes October 4, 2010.
CFIA intends to publish the draft regulation in Canada Gazette Part 1 before the end of December 2010.
