The Administrative Monetary Penalties system, or AMPs, gives the CFIA the option of issuing penalties for violations of the Health of Animals Act and the Plant Protection Act and their regulations. While AMPs is new, the laws that it enforces are unchanged. The CFIA already enforces these Acts, but until now had no option other than to prosecute in the courts. AMPs is a flexible and cost-effective response to violations that do not warrant costly and lengthy court prosecution procedures but are serious enough to pose a risk to our country. AMPs affords the CFIA an alternative enforcement mechanism that is more in keeping with many of the violations under the two Acts and their regulations.
AMPs encourages compliance.
Prosecution continues to be an option for the illegal import of very high-risk products or repeat offenders. AMPs also takes into account instances where there is no intention to violate the law. Customs declarations provide travellers with the opportunity to alert officials to the presence of plants, animals and their products in their luggage. Declaring these products as required will forestall the issuance of a monetary penalty. The sausages and plant cuttings, however, will likely have to stay at the border point where they will be destroyed.