Update on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Food Labelling Modernization Initiative

Transcription

1 Update on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Food Labelling Modernization Initiative Presented to: Food Supply Chain Stakeholder Meeting Date: January 27, 2014 Presented by: Daniel Miller, Food Labelling and Claims Directorate RDIMs Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada (Canadian Food Inspection Agency), all rights reserved. Use without permission is prohibited.

2 Purpose Our aim is to provide you with an overview of: how the Food Labelling Modernization (FLM) initiative is aligning with Health Canada, as part of the Health Portfolio the FLM initiative, including what we heard from our various engagement activities, and next steps 2

3 How CFIA and Health Canada are Aligning In October 2013, the CFIA joined the Health Portfolio The CFIA s food labelling responsibilities have not changed. CFIA has always worked closely with Health Canada (HC) and will continue to do so. - This will further strengthen our on-going relationship with Health Canada - It also further underscores the CFIA's commitment to food safety as a top priority The alignment will focus and clarify accountabilities and present new opportunities for collaboration. Health Canada has been actively involved in the FLM planning and engagement. We will continue to collaborate on our engagement activities and with Health Canada on the Speech from the Throne commitment to consult on nutrition labelling. 3

4 Shared Responsibility for Food Labelling (at the Federal Level) At the federal government level, the responsibility for food labelling requirements is shared between: Health Canada - Establishes policies, regulations and standards relating to the health, safety and nutritional quality of food sold in Canada. Canadian Food Inspection Agency - Enforces the policies and regulations that are developed by Health Canada. - Administers and enforces non-health and safety policies and regulations. 4

5 FLM Objectives and Focus Objectives: Develop a modern and innovative food labelling system within the context of CFIA s priorities and vision and which aligns with the new Safe Food for Canadian s Act and that Focus: Provides a better understanding of roles and responsibilities and continuous improvement as it relates to partnerships with other government departments such as Health Canada and with consumers and industry Appropriately responds to consumer and industry needs around food labelling within CFIA s mandate Promotes smarter regulations and risk-based oversight by Government Improves service delivery such as in relation to inquiries and availability of labelling information and tools Will include all foods, as well as the review of CFIA food labelling frameworks and regulatory, program design and delivery systems Will not include food labelling activities that fall under the mandate of other government departments (for example: Health Canada) See Annex 1 for more information on the focus of this initiative 5

6 Overview of Food Labelling Modernization Timeline We Are Here Issues Gathered & Engagement Completed Approval of Draft Recommendations Completed Engagement Stages Timelines Stage 1: Launch, Engage and Gather Issues 1 Stage 2: Analyse Data and Draft Recommendations 2 Stage 3: Engage on Draft Recommendations & Analyse Data 3 Stage 4: Finalize Report on Recommendations & Implementation Proposal June- December 2013 January - May 2014 June November 2014 December 2014 June

7 FLM Update FLM engagement sessions included: Internal Engagement Sessions in Spring CFIA Staff CFIA Food Safety Regulatory Forum in June stakeholders participated, 110 participated in FLM sessions FLM Online Consultation from June September responses received (mostly from consumers) Canadian Food Inspection Agency Transformation Webinars from August to November completed (more than 900 participants, including internal and external stakeholders) Integrated Food Labelling / Regulatory Modernization Engagement Sessions in October 2013 in Ottawa, Toronto, Halifax, Montreal and Vancouver; 326 external stakeholders and 92 CFIA staff. 7

8 Summary of Feedback Received In Spring/Summer 2013 Feedback from Internal Sessions with CFIA staff 1. *Regulations: a lot of duplication in regulations ; regulations interpreted differently across regions; need more consistency and uniformity; 2. Policy development: inspectors would like to be involved earlier and more frequently in policy development process 3. *Training: need to enhance training for inspectors 4. *Tools: food labelling information dispersed and difficult to find; need single window, easily accessible national database that streamlines all food labelling information in a central location 5. Timeliness on internal inquiries: improve response times and increase involvement in decision-making 6. *Consistency: need to enhance national consistency and harmonization in compliance and enforcement approaches Key Findings and Issues heard from Food Forum 1. Regulations: *Need more consistent interpretation of standards and regulations by inspectors 2. 65% of participants use CFIA website to access information 3. Training: *Increase training for inspectors, providing consistent training for inspectors and industry 4. Tools:*Make labelling information more easily accessible Tools: *Increase guidance for industry to meet compliance 5. Roles: Need more clarity around CFIA and Health Canada roles 6. Consistency: *improve consistency in enforcement *Common themes raised from engagement activities 8

9 Summary of Preliminary Feedback Received in Summer/Fall 2013 Preliminary Feedback from Online Consultation Review regulations to ensure they are current Review the purpose/intention of the standards of identity to ensure they do not inadvertently stifle innovation and opportunity Consumers value information on preservatives, country of origin, size of package, best before date, ingredients method of production Enhance how CFIA services are communicated to consumers Improve training and retention of experts at CFIA Preliminary Feedback from Face to Face Consultation Address duplication between policies and regulation and their interpretation between the policy-maker (Health Canada) and the enforcement agency (CFIA). Standards of identity are an issue for many food product manufacturers. Enhancements are required to reflect innovation, consumer perception or food categories. Need clearer labelling on livestock methods of production and animal welfare claims (e.g. free run, free range, natural, enriched.) Need more clarity around local product claims and to address unclear and inconsistent country of origin labelling rules Need a single portal of information for all stakeholders with guidance on regulations Training around enforcement activities needs to be more consistent *Common themes raised from engagement activities 9

10 Path Forward Compile and report on information received from our engagement activities Continue to align with other Agency Transformation initiatives (e.g. Regulatory Modernization, Importer Licensing) Continue to co-ordinate engagement activities with modernization initiatives being undertaken at Health Canada and share information Complete engagement with industry and consumer associations on specific areas they would like enhanced as it relates to labelling regulations Continue with Stage 2 of the FLM: Analysis of Data and Drafting Recommendations. 10

11 Please send any input you may have: By By mail: Strategic Partnerships Division 1400 Merivale Road, Tower 1 Floor 6, suite 218 Ottawa, ON K1A 0Y9 Canada Attn: Food labelling modernization By fax: You can also visit the FLM home page at: 11

12 QUESTIONS 12

13 Annex 1: Focus of FLM with Examples Overall Focus: It will include all foods, as well as CFIA food labelling frameworks and regulatory, program design and delivery systems. Examples: In Focus All food including imported, domestic, retail; consumer packaged or bulk, further manufacturing Roles, Responsibilities & Partnerships In Focus Examining the roles and responsibilities that consumers, industry and government play in food labelling within the CFIA s mandate 13

14 Regulations In Focus Labelling regulations under CFIA s responsibility list of ingredients placement of information country of origin marking standards of identity net quantity ingredient class names grade marks best before date common name type size dealer name and address Administering labelling requirements for imported and domestic products that fall under CFIA responsibility in the following legislation: Food and Drugs Act /Food and Drug Regulations Canada Agricultural Products Act and its regulations Fish Inspection Act /Fish Inspection Regulations Meat Inspection Act /Meat Inspection Regulations Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act/Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations Policy and Program Development In Focus Examining policies and guidelines, such as local, that are within the mandate of the CFIA, and that: no longer respond to industry and consumer needs, contain gaps, or are not harmonized with international standards or agreements Examining CFIA s process for developing and delivering policies, programs and frameworks. 14

15 Service Delivery In Focus Examining inspection activities and tools related to labelling and advertising of food under the responsibility of the CFIA inspection approach and strategy training materials IM/IT tools guidance materials (for example: Guide to Food Labelling and Advertising, Nutrition Labelling Toolkit) labelling website information Enforcing labelling requirements for imported and domestic products as they pertain to: Food and Drugs Act /Food and Drug Regulations Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act/Consumer Packaging and Labelling Regulations Fish Inspection Act /Fish Inspection Regulations Meat Inspection Act /Meat Inspection Regulations Canada Agricultural Products Act and its regulations 15

16 Out of Focus: Does not include food labelling activities that fall under the mandate of other government departments (such as Health Canada). Examples: Out of Focus Food for export/ sale outside of Canada Roles, Responsibilities & Partnerships Out of Focus Transferring legislated responsibilities to other government departments 16

17 Regulations Out of Focus Examining labelling regulations under Health Canada s responsibility nutrition labelling and health claims requirements food additives allergen labelling requirements fortification genetically modified foods, novel foods foods for special dietary use food safety related labelling requirements aspartame and sugar alcohols Labelling regulations under other government department s responsibility, for example: Industry Canada Office of the Official Languages Competition Bureau Measurement Canada Examining recently developed or revised labelling regulations and policies under CFIA s responsibility, for example: Organic Products Regulations icewine standard cheese regulatory amendments guidelines on Product of Canada Examining labelling regulatory changes under CFIA s responsibility that would make them inconsistent with international standards such as the Codex General Standard for the Labelling of Prepackaged Foods 17

18 Regulations (Continued) Out of Focus Examining regulations and policies under CFIA responsibility that are not related to labelling of food, for example: animal and plant health microbiological standards agricultural inputs (for example: feed, fertilizers) Examining labeling regulations and policies under provincial and territorial responsibility, for example provincial standards and requirement Nova Scotia Liquor Standards Corporation Ontario Milk Act Requirements for bilingual labelling Metrification in relation to net quantity declaration 18

19 Policy and Program Development Out of Focus Examining policies and guidelines that are outside the mandate of the CFIA Service Delivery Out of Focus Examining inspection activities and tools under CFIA responsibility that are not related to labelling of food, such as related to: animal and plant health microbiological standards agricultural inputs (for example: feed, fertilizers) Labelling Recipe and Registration Unit 19