April 13, 2020 – Until further notice the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) will not prioritize compliance activities associated with the July 15, 2020 coming into force of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) for the manufactured food sector.
Any changes to the CFIA’s prioritization of these compliance activities will be announced with adequate lead time once the situation allows.
Despite the above, affected businesses are encouraged to apply for a licence under the Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA). However, importers of manufactured food will generally not encounter delays or disruptions in their imports simply because of not having a Safe Food for Canadians licence yet. Domestic manufacturers can continue to operate while they apply for a licence.
Industry is responsible for ensuring the safety of their food products at all times. The CFIA will continue to support businesses in their efforts to comply with relevant legislation, including the SFCA and the SFCR.
In the event of a food safety issue, the CFIA will take action to protect consumers. This may include recalling, seizing or detaining food products and using other enforcement and control measures.
We will continue to monitor the COVID-19 situation and may adjust our compliance activities as it evolves. Please continue to check our website regularly for updates on the CFIA’s response to COVID-19.
For information on the SFCR, please see our Toolkit for food businesses.