G/SPS/N/CAN/938  
 
2 June 2015  
(15-2876)  Page: 1/2  
Committee on Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures  Original: English/French  
 
  NOTIFICATION 
1. Notifying Member: CANADA 
If applicable, name of local government involved:   
2. Agency responsible: Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) 
3. Products covered (provide tariff item  number(s) as specified in national 
schedules deposited with the WTO; IC S numbers should be provided in 
addition, where applicable): Food intended for human consumption 
4. Regions or countries likely to be affected , to the extent relevant or practicable: 
[X] All trading partners   
[ ] Specific regions or countries:   
5. Title of the notified document: Options for Reducing Burden for Micro and Small 
Businesses  Language(s): English and French  Number of pages: 12 and 14 
6. Description of content: In response to comments received during consultations on 
A New Regulatory Framework for Federal Food Inspection: Overview of Proposed Regulations  (G/SPS/N/CAN/700/Rev.1 notified on 5 June 2014), Canada has released a 
discussion paper: Options for Reducing Burden for Micro and Small Businesses. 
This discussion paper is aimed at bettering the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's 
(CFIA) understanding of the food safety challenges and costs that micro and small businesses face, and to seek their feedback on options that could reduce the burden 
associated with certain requirements. The CFIA is also interested in hearing about the 
types of tools, guidance resources and support that would assist these businesses in producing safe and compliant food. Small businesses are those that generate $100,000 
or less in annual food gross sales. Microbusinesses have annual food gross sales of 
$30,000 or less. 
Current options in consideration for reducing burden include:  
 Full or partial exemptions from certain re quirements (where safety is not impacted); 
 
 Cost accommodation; 
 Additional time to comply with requirements. 
Responses received as a result of this consultation will be considered in the proposed 
regulations under the Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA) and pre-published with an 
additional opportunity to provide comments. 
7. Objective and rationale: [X] food safety, [ ] animal health, [ ] plant protection, 
[ ] protect humans from animal/plant pest or disease, [ ] protect territory from 
other damage from pests.   G/SPS/N/CAN/938 
 
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  8. Is there a relevant international st andard? If so, identify the standard:  
[ ] Codex Alimentarius Commission (e.g. title or serial number of Codex 
standard or related text)   
[ ] World Organization for Animal Health (OIE) (e.g. Terrestrial or Aquatic 
Animal Health Code, chapter number)    
[ ] International Plant Protection Convention (e.g. ISPM number)    
[X] None 
Does this proposed regulation conform to the relevant international standard?   
[ ] Yes   [ ] No 
If no, describe, whenever possible, how and why it deviates from the 
international standard:   
9. Other relevant documents and language (s) in which these are available: 
A New Regulatory Framework for Federal F ood Inspection: Overview of Proposed 
Regulations: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/abo ut-the-cfia/accountability/co nsultations/federal-food-
inspection/eng/1400782729114/1400782730114  (English) 
http://www.inspection.g c.ca/au-sujet-de-l-
acia/responsabilisation/consultations/inspection-federale-des-
aliments/fra/1400782729114/1400782730114  (French) 
10. Proposed date of adoption (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined. 
Proposed date of publication (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined. 
11. Proposed date of entry into force: [ ] Six months from date of publication , 
and/or  (dd/mm/yy) : To be determined. 
[ ] Trade facilitating measure   
12. Final date for comments: [ ] Sixty days from the date of circulation of the 
notification and/or (dd/mm/yy) : 30 June 2015 
Agency or authority designated to hand le comments: [ ] National Notification 
Authority, [X] National Enquiry Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address 
(if available) of other body:  
Comments can be submitted directly to:  
CFIA-Modernisation-ACIA@inspection.gc.ca 
13. Text(s) available from: [ ] National Notifi cation Authority, [X] National Enquiry 
Point. Address, fax number and e-mail address (if available) of other body:   
The electronic version of the proposed policy document can be downloaded at:  
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/about-the-c fia/acts-and-regulations/regulatory-
initiatives/sfca/food-safety-systems/consultation/new-regulatory-
framework/eng/1426532864329/1426532917582  (English) 
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/a u-sujet-de-l-acia/lois-et- reglements/initiatives-
reglementaires/lsac/systemes-de-salubrite- des-aliments/consultations/nouveau-cadre-
de-reglementation/fra/1426532864329/1426532917582  (French)