CFIA switches policy on naming food-safety rule breakers Thursday, March 17, 2011 by PAT CURRIEIn a switch of policy, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency this week began publishing details of its law-enforcement activities on its website.While the federal agency used to publish the names of individuals and businesses that had been successfully prosecuted for breaching its rules, it now will name entities involved in CFIA investigations. The new policy kicked in on March 16 as part of what CFIA senior media relations officer Guy Gravelle termed an "ongoing transparency initiative." It has published this information for the months April 1 to Dec. 31, 2010.Gravelle explained that the rationale for the change in policy reflected the federal government’s commitment "to providing consumers with information on enforcement action being taken to protect the safety of their food supply, and the animal and plant resource base upon which safe food depends."He said the agency "is committed to delivering on its mandate in an open and accountable way while continuing to work closely with the Canadian food industry to ensure they have clear guidance on how to achieve compliance."Timing of the policy switch "is consistent with commitments made in response to an independent investigator’s report into a 2008 listeriosis outbreak — traced to a Maple Leaf Foods plant in Toronto — that infected 57 people, 23 of whom died. The quarterly website reports will include information on food imports that have been refused entry into Canada; federally registered food establishments whose licenses have been suspended, cancelled or reinstated; and notices of violations with warning and penalties, including identifying repeat offenders of animal transport regulations.Gravelle said the CFIA previously put information on its website on prosecution bulletins (which provide details when a company is convicted under food safety acts and regulations ) but did not publish information on its enforcement activities.Gravelle said information now being made public includes the names of companies that are repeat violators of humane transport regulations and which have received notices of violations with penalty — otherwise known as Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs)."There is a demonstrated public need for this type of disclosure, reinforced by the CFIA's commitment to making more information public on its enforcement activities. This movement towards greater transparency is shared by other federal regulators in Canada and the U.S.," he said."Making this information public is a fair, balanced and measured approach to protecting the safety of Canada's food supply and the resources upon which it depends. And, ultimately, it promotes public confidence in the federal government's enforcement actions," he added.Currently, not all companies that receive notices of violations with warning and penalties are being identified but that will change, Gravelle said."This is only the first phase. The CFIA intends to eventually publish the names of all company violators, in a phased approach. As this initiative expands, more enforcement-related information will be published. "Once a named company has come back into compliance, the CFIA will note this change and will publish the reinstatement date," he said. BF Single phone call enables 5,000 farmers to chat with Duncan and Mitchell Demand for Canadian soybeans grows amidst tsunami disaster
Cdn. farmers can win a chance to brew their own beer Wednesday, October 30, 2024 A contest is giving Canadian farmers a chance to brew their own beer. Bayer and Origin Brewing & Malting Co., out of Strathmore, Alta., have teamed up for the FieldBrew contest. The contest is open to farmers from B.C. to Ontario who are at least 19 years old. Participants can earn... Read this article online
Farmers and small businesses worried about Federal Debt Crisis Wednesday, October 30, 2024 Nearly 74% of Canadian small businesses express concern over the federal government’s lack of a concrete plan to balance the budget, as deficits and federal debt continue to rise, reports the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB). These sentiments are also held by many growers... Read this article online
Setting the record straight on Bill C-282 and what it means for Canada Tuesday, October 29, 2024 An op-ed from Egg Farmers of Canada, Dairy Farmers of Canada, Chicken Farmers of Canada, Turkey Farmers of Canada, and the Canadian Hatching Egg Producers. Canada is an attractive trading partner for many nations. Arguing that countries would abandon trade talks simply because we... Read this article online
Massey Ferguson introduces six new tractors Tuesday, October 29, 2024 Massey Ferguson has debuted its new of tractors, what the company calls a line-up of versatile and powerful machines designed to meet the needs of modern farmers. This series includes six new models, each tailored to different farming requirements and preferences. MF... Read this article online
Ontario Pork Congress Annual Meeting report Tuesday, October 29, 2024 The Ontario Pork Congress was held on October 22, 2024, at the Arden Park Hotel in Stratford, Ontario, with over 35 people attending. At the event, the association revealed the winner of its —Tara Terpstra, a Huron County pork producer who is currently Chair of Ontario Pork. The... Read this article online