Our Commitment to Food Safety

In this section:

Our Commitment
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Exporting to the USA

Our Commitment

As Past President of the Canadian Cattlemen's Association I recognize the importance of communicating the measures that our industry has taken to ensure the safety of our products. Food safety must remain our most important priority as we work to have Canadian high quality beef products recognized as the most outstanding by Canadian and world customers.

Our country's leadership in food safety and animal health is the result of a partnership between the government of Canada and the beef industry. This partnership has led to the creation of the first mandatory National Cattle Identification System in North America and the development of Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) systems throughout the beef supply chain.

Please know that our industry is committed to continuing to enhance our food safety and animal health systems to maintain the trust we have established with our customers over the years. I hope you will find the information in this site useful and informative.

On behalf of Canadian cattle producers, I would like to thank you for your support of our industry.

Food safety must remain our most important priority as we work to have Canadian high quality beef products recognized as the most outstanding by Canadian and world customers.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Safeguarding Canada's Food Supply

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) safeguards Canada's food supply by enforcement of food safety and nutritional quality regulations. The CFIA monitors all federally inspected establishments and has the authority for administration and enforcement of Canada's Meat Inspection Act under federal law. The Agency also sets standards for animal health and carries out related enforcement and inspection. The CFIA is led by a president who reports to the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and ultimately to the Prime Minister of Canada. The Agency employs approximately 6,000 highly trained professionals, including veterinarians, research scientists and inspectors, who operate from field offices across Canada. The CFIA manages 14 laboratories and research facilities that provide scientific advice, develop new technologies, provide testing services and conduct research.

Canada has an internationally respected food safety system.

Protecting Consumers

The CFIA protects consumers of Canadian beef by contributing to food safety and the health of animals in Canada. This ongoing commitment is supported by a willingness to communicate developments in food safety and animal health in a rapid and open manner.

The Canadian Cattlemen's Association (CCA) recognizes the important contribution of on-farm practices to animal health and food safety. We are working with Canadian beef producers to implement the CCA's on-farm food safety program which is based on HACCP principles.

Exporting to the USA

The USA is Canada’s largest export market for beef products. In 2006, buyers in the United States purchased approximately 300,000 tons of Canadian beef. The CFIA must certify that each load meets USDA requirements before it can be transported to the border. At the border, inspectors from the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) check documentation to verify the product has been correctly certified, and then examine each shipment for general condition and labeling. Further inspection activities may include laboratory analysis for product composition, microbiological contamination, chemical residues, and species.

More than 99.9% percent of beef products exported to the USA meet food safety requirements, as measured by rates of permitted entry.

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