G/TBT/N/CAN/394  
 
19 July 2013  
(13-3875)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original: English  
 
 NOTIFICATION 
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6 
 
1. Notifying Member:  CANADA  
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):     
2. Agency responsible:  Canadian Food In spection Agency 
Name and address (including telephon e and fax numbers, email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above :   
By email to  mailto:CFIA-Modernisation-ACIA@inspection.gc.ca  
Or  
by postal mail to:   
Strategic Partnerships Division  Canadian Food Inspection Agency 
1400 Merivale Road, Tower 1 Floor 6, suite 218 
Ottawa, ON K1A 0Y9 Canada  Attn: Regulatory Framework 
Or 
By fax to:   +1-613-773-5606 
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other:   
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided  in addition, where applicable): Food 
intended for human consumption. 
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  A New 
Regulatory Framework for Federal Food Inspection: Discussion document 
(56 and 53 pages, available in English and French)      
6. Description of content:  The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is proposing to draw 
together federal food inspection regulations in Canada into one overarching system. This discussion document sets out proposed elements of a broad framework for new federal 
food inspection regulations.  The CFIA is proposing to replace thirteen separate federal 
food inspection regulations with one single set of regulations that includes:  
a)
 horizontal provisions applying to all food imported and prepared for trade inter-
provincially (e.g. licensing, preventati ve controls, outcome-based requirements, 
traceability, record-keeping, review and redress mechanisms); 
b) commodity-specific safety requirements (e.g. fresh fruit and vegetable), 
commodity-specific trade and consumer protection provisions (e.g. labelling, 
standards of identify); and  
c) complementary regulations regarding disclosure of information and administrative 
monetary penalties. 
Responses received as a result of this consultation will be considered in drafting the G/TBT/N/CAN/394 
 
- 2 - 
 
  regulations. There will be a second opportunity to submit comments following the 
release of a Notice of Regulatory Intent, anticipated for Spring 2014. 
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  To strengthen food safety rules, a new regulatory regime is being created.  
The intent is that regulation made under three CFIA inspection statues (the Canada 
Agriculture Products Act , the Fish Inspection Act,  and the Meat Inspection Act ) will be 
consolidated into proposed regulations under the new Safe Food for Canadians Act 
(SFCA). These regulations will also represent an important step in the implementation of 
CFIA's Improved Food Inspection Model  (previously notified as 
G/TBT/N/CAN/365/Rev.1/Add.2)  
This consultation paper sets out the elements of a proposed regulatory framework and 
makes the first consultation step in the regula tory transformation process. It highlights 
particular proposals and introduces new approaches in order to stimulate debate, 
generate ideas, and provide a starting point for discussions. 
8. Relevant documents:   Presentation on the Food regulations framework: 
http://www.cfia-acia.agr.ca/food/act ion-plan/food-safety-regulatory-
forum/presentations/eng/1369757934028/1369757989311  (English) 
http://www.cfia-acia.agr.ca/aliments/plan-d-a ction/forum-sur-la-reglementation-de-la-
salubrite-des-al/exposes-presentes-dans-le-cadre-du-forum/document-de-
travail/fra/1369927738192/1369927793161  (French) 
9. Proposed date of adoption:   
Proposed date of entry into force:    1 January 2015  1 January 2015 (These dates relate to the 
proposed regulations described in the 
discussion document) 
10. Final date for comments:  20 November 2013 
11. Text available from:  National enquiry point [X], or address, telephone and fax 
numbers, e-mail and web-site addresse s, if available of the other body:    
The electronic version can be downloaded at:   http://www.cfia-acia.agr. ca/food/action-plan/fo od-safety-regulatory-
forum/presentations/discussion-d ocument/eng/1370029593829/1370029641557    
(English) 
http://www.cfia-acia.agr.ca/a liments/plan-d-action /forum-sur-la-reglementation-de-la-
salubrite-des-al/exposes-presentes-dans-le-cadre-du-forum/document-de-
travail/fra/1370029593829/1370029641557  (French)