Consumer Products Safety
Food manufacturers are proud of Canada's world-class regulatory standards, which help deliver the safe and high quality products that consumers demand. Overall, manufacturing processes in Canada are governed by 442 federal and provincial pieces of legislation ranging from food safety and nutritional quality to human rights and labour relations. Examples of major food safety legislation include the Food and Drugs Act, the core federal legislation regulating the safety and nutritional quality of food sold in Canada, and Ontario's recent Food Safety and Quality Act, the consolidation of six food-related acts to ensure a common approach and consistent standards for the safety and quality of our food.
In addition to legislation, manufacturers go beyond government standards by drawing on thousands of regulations and self-imposed standards, such as ISO certification, to ensure their food products meet and exceed compliance with health and safety requirements. Even after finished goods have left processing facilities, food manufacturers have policies and systems in place to help retailers properly handle and store their products to ensure consumers buy a safe and high quality product. Some of these policies and systems include quality checks of store shelves, retail reimbursement programs for outdated products, and policies to reclaim and destroy out-of-date product.
As the association representing food manufacturers, FCPC does its part to ensure the safety of our food supply by working with the Canadian government to set and maintain the highest food safety standards. The Canadian government is responsible for ensuring the safety of all products approved, including those made using new technologies, before they reach the marketplace. Consistent with the government's goal, we are helping to improve Canada's ability to develop and provide safe and nutritious products through ongoing involvement in regulatory development.
For example, in 1996 FCPC worked with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Industry Canada and other industry partners to develop the Guide to Food Labelling and Advertising. The guide is an important reference document for the food industry on policies and regulations for the labelling and advertising of foods in Canada including application of 'best before' dates.
Our role is to determine how new or revised food safety and security initiatives will affect our members, and how we can ensure their effective and efficient implementation. We also ensure that Canadian food manufacturers are provided with the necessary resources to manage food safety and security concerns. Here is a sample of the initiatives we are involved with on behalf of our members:
- FCPC is an active participant on the Canadian Supply Chain Food Safety Coalition. The Coalition provides leadership, working with all levels of government, to develop a national food safety strategy. Approximately 65 national associations participate in the Coalition representing all segments of the food chain.
- In cooperation with the retail sector and CFIA, FCPC has produced a Supply Chain Food Product Recall Manual available to the industry as a resource manual and a template for developing recall plans. Recent additions to the manual include four guidelines prepared by CFIA for manufacturers, retailers, importers and distributors including a section regarding food emergency response procedures.
- FCPC routinely organizes educational seminars for its members on different aspects of food safety. For example, in 2002 we held a series of product recall workshops across Canada in partnership with other industry associations. The workshops were aimed at improving the Canadian food industry's awareness, understanding and practices of product recall procedures.
- FCPC also produces manuals to serve as templates and best practices guidelines for the entire industry. We were the first association in the world to develop an employee education program on allergen management for the manufacturing industry in 1993. Entitled Allergy Beware the program is designed to minimize the potential for cross-contact and possible consumer exposure to allergens during the food production process. To-date, over 600 companies involved in food production worldwide have signed up for the program. In 2000, we developed an updated set of guidelines to augment the program.
- To help navigate the sea of Canadian legislative requirements, FCPC compiled an extensive on-line resource called the Code of Practice. This complete electronic guide offers the latest information via direct links to all federal, provincial and territorial regulatory data on every aspect of food and consumer product manufacturers' corporate activity. For more information about the legislative statutes governing the industry, visit the FCPC Code of Practice files.
- FCPC is a supporting member of the Fight Bac! Program, which is run by the Canadian Partnership for Consumer Food Safety Education. The partnership is committed to reducing foodborne illness in Canada by increasing awareness of safe food handling practices through the coordination and delivery of food safety education programs focused on the consumer. For more information about this program, visit http://www.canfightbac.org/cpcfse/en/about/.
- In March 2003, FCPC submitted comments on the proposed amendment to the Food & Drugs Act Regulations in Canada Gazette Part I, which would allow additional foods to be irradiated and sold in Canada. In the submission to Health Canada, FCPC voiced its support for the proposed new applications for food irradiation including the extension of its use on additional food products. Food irradiation offers an additional protective step to reducing the potential for microbial contamination and food pathogens. For more information on the amendments, visit Health Canada's web site
To purchase the Supply Chain Food Product Recall Manual or the Allergy Guidelines, visit our Publications Catalogue
Industry website on substances used in products
Product safety is important to all Canadians, including Canada's food, beverage and consumer products manufacturers who make products used by Canadians each day. Industry is committed to providing consumers with a range of products which are developed in accordance with Canada's rigorous substance management regulations.
We are also committed to providing consumers with information. Representatives from across various industry sectors have created a website ingredientawareness.ca. It has been created by Canadian industry organizations dedicated to the health and safety of Canadians and the environment.
The Government of Canada's Challenge Program is focused on Canada being an international leader in the safe use of substances in products. It is also focused on making responsible decisions on how these ingredients are used based on sound science. Industry supports these goals.
Products that are currently sold in Canada are subject to rigorous testing. Industry will continue to work with government to ensure that these products continue to meet guidelines governing their safe use. The website ingredientwareness.ca provides insight into the current regulatory framework and industry's role in collaborating with government.
For more information on the December 8th announcement, refer to
Canada's New Government improves protection against hazardous chemicals [ French ]
Resources - Food Safety