FOOD CONTROL-SYSTEMS IN CANADA

This paper provides an overview of the responsibilities and jurisdicti onal boundaries of Health Canada (HC) and Agriculture and Agri-Food Ca nada (AAFC) with regard to food regulation in Canada. It examines thei r interagency coordination within the federal structure and with other levels of government, industry, and the consumer. The international d evelopments are considered with the North American Free Trade Agreemen t (NAFTA) and the Canada, United States Trade Agreement (CUSTA) being regarded as likely to have a significant future impact. The federal fo od safety and quality system is complex and fragmented. Federal food r egulation comes under the jurisdiction of four federal departments: HC , AAFC, Industry Canada (IC), and Fisheries and Oceans Canada (FOC). A ll four departments are involved with inspection, surveillance, and th e analysis of food sold in Canada. In addition, Canada's ten provincia l and two territorial governments have provincial-, regional-, municip al-, and local-level governments that also have jurisdiction over food safety and quality. Consideration is first given to the main legislat ive provision covering food-the Federal Food and Drugs Act. This Act i s administered by several of the Federal Government departments. The r ole of these departments is examined individually along with additiona l, more specific legal provisions for which responsibility is not divi ded (in particular, the Canada Agricultural Products [CAP] Act adminis tered by AAFC, and the Consumer Packaging and Labeling Act [CPLA] admi nistered by IC). The various reviews that have taken place in the rece nt past and those still in progress are considered and the final part of this paper looks at the international developments that are likely to have a major impact on the future development of the Canadian food control system.