An Act to establish the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and to repeal and amend other Acts as a consequence
Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act
C-16.561997
Preamble
WHEREAS the Government of Canada wishes to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of federal inspection and related services for food and animal and plant health by consolidating them;
WHEREAS the consolidation of those services under a single food inspection agency will contribute to consumer protection and facilitate a more uniform and consistent approach to safety and quality standards and risk-based inspection systems;
WHEREAS the Government of Canada wishes to have that food inspection agency deliver those services in a cost effective manner;
WHEREAS the Government of Canada wishes to promote trade and commerce;
AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada wishes to pursue a greater degree of collaboration and consultation between federal departments and with other orders of government in this area;
NOW, THEREFORE, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:
Short Title
Short title
1
This Act may be cited as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act.
Interpretation
Definitions
2
The definitions in this section apply in this Act.
Agency means the Canadian Food Inspection Agency established by section 3. (Agence)
Minister means the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. (ministre)
Establishment of the Agency
Establishment
3
There is hereby established a body corporate called the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which may exercise powers only as an agent of Her Majesty in right of Canada.
Minister responsible
4
(1)
The Minister is responsible for and has the overall direction of the Agency.
Delegation by Minister
(2)
The Minister may delegate to any person any power, duty or function conferred on the Minister under this Act or any Act or provision that the Agency enforces or administers by virtue of section 11, except the power to make regulations and the power to delegate under this subsection.
Organization and Head Office
Appointment of Agency executives
5
The Governor in Council shall appoint a President and an Executive Vice-president of the Agency to hold office during pleasure for a term not exceeding five years, which term may be renewed for one or more further terms.
President’s powers
6
(1)
The President is chief executive officer of the Agency and has supervision over and direction of its work and staff. The President has the rank and all the powers of a deputy head of a Department.
Executive Vice-president’s powers
(2)
The Executive Vice-president shall exercise such powers and perform such duties and functions as the President may assign and shall act as President if that office is vacant or if the President is absent or incapacitated.
Delegation by President
7
The President may delegate to any person any power, duty or function conferred on the President under this Act or any other enactment.
Remuneration
8
The President and Executive Vice-president shall be paid such remuneration as is fixed by the Governor in Council.
Head office
9
The head office of the Agency shall be in the National Capital Region, as described in the schedule to the National Capital Act.
Advisory Board
Appointment of members
10
(1)
The Minister shall appoint an advisory board of not more than twelve members to hold office during pleasure for a term not exceeding three years, which term may be renewed for one or more further terms.
Role of advisory board
(2)
The board shall advise the Minister on any matter within the responsibilities of the Agency.
Representation
(3)
The Minister may appoint any person with relevant knowledge or experience to the advisory board, including persons from the agriculture, fisheries, food processing, food distribution and public health sectors, consumer groups or provincial or municipal governments.
Chairperson
(4)
The Minister shall appoint one of the members as Chairperson of the advisory board.
Fees for services
(5)
Each member of the advisory board shall be paid such fees for his or her services as are fixed by the Minister.
Travel and living expenses
(6)
Each member of the advisory board shall be reimbursed for reasonable travel and living expenses incurred by the member in the course of performing duties under this Act while absent from his or her ordinary place of residence.
Meetings
(7)
The Chairperson may determine the times and places at which the advisory board will meet.
Mandate of the Agency
Administration and enforcement
11
(1)
The Agency is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act, Feeds Act, Fertilizers Act, Health of Animals Act, Plant Breeders’ Rights Act, Plant Protection Act, Safe Food for Canadians Act and Seeds Act.
(2)
[Repealed, 2012, c. 24, s. 103]
Food and Drugs Act
(3)
The Agency is responsible for
(a)
the enforcement of the Food and Drugs Act as it relates to food, as defined in section 2 of that Act; and
(b)
the administration of the provisions of the Food and Drugs Act as they relate to food, as defined in section 2 of that Act, except those provisions that relate to public health, safety or nutrition.
For greater certainty
(4)
For greater certainty, in carrying out its responsibilities under subsections (1) and (3) — except in relation to a provision of the Food and Drugs Act, as it relates to food as defined in section 2 of that Act, and that relates to public health, safety or nutrition — the Agency may, among other things, as appropriate and in accordance with the purposes of the Acts referred to in those subsections,
(a)
protect and mitigate risks to food safety, animal health, plant health, human health and the environment;
(b)
support compliance with regulatory requirements;
(c)
contribute to public awareness in relation to food safety, animal health, plant health, human health and the protection of the environment;
(d)
contribute to consumer protection;
(e)
uphold Canada’s international reputation for food safety, animal health and plant health;
(f)
facilitate trade and commerce; and
(g)
consider national economic security, regional economic security or national food security.
(5)
[Repealed, 2026, c. 22, s. 48]
1997, c. 6, s. 11; 2005, c. 38, s. 532012, c. 24, s. 1032026, c. 22, s. 48
Responsibilities
Minister of Health
11.1
The Minister of Health is responsible for establishing policies and standards relating to the safety and nutritional quality of food sold in Canada and assessing the effectiveness of the Agency’s activities related to food safety.
2026, c. 22, s. 49
Canada Border Services Agency
11.2
The Canada Border Services Agency is responsible for the enforcement of the program legislation referred to in paragraph (b) of the definition program legislation in section 2 of the Canada Border Services Agency Act as that program legislation relates to the delivery of initial passenger and import inspection services performed at airports and other Canadian border points other than import service centres.
2026, c. 22, s. 49
Human Resources
Separate agency
12
The Agency is a separate agency under the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations Act.
1997, c. 6, s. 12; 2003, c. 22, s. 135; 2017, c. 9, s. 55
President’s authority to appoint employees
13
(1)
The President has the authority to appoint the employees of the Agency.
Terms and conditions of employment
(2)
The President may set the terms and conditions of employment for employees of the Agency and assign duties to them.
Enforcement officers
(3)
The President may designate any person or class of persons as inspectors, analysts, graders, veterinary inspectors or other officers for the enforcement or administration of any Act or provision that the Agency enforces or administers by virtue of section 11, in respect of any matter referred to in the designation.
Powers of the Agency
Contracts and agreements
14
(1)
The Agency may enter into contracts, memoranda of understanding and other agreements with a department or agency of the Government of Canada or the government of a province and with any other person or organization in the name of Her Majesty in right of Canada or in its own name.
International arrangements
(2)
In exercising its responsibilities, the Agency may negotiate and enter into arrangements for the implementation of technical requirements for the international movement of products or other things regulated under an Act or provision that the Agency enforces or administers by virtue of section 11.
Legal proceedings
15
Actions, suits or other legal proceedings in respect of any right or obligation acquired or incurred by the Agency, whether in its own name or in the name of Her Majesty in right of Canada, may be brought or taken by or against the Agency in the name of the Agency in any court that would have jurisdiction if the Agency were not an agent of Her Majesty.
Choice of service providers
16
Notwithstanding section 9 of the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act, the Agency may, with the approval of the Governor in Council given on the recommendation of the Treasury Board, procure goods and services, including legal services, from outside the federal public administration.
1997, c. 6, s. 16; 2003, c. 22, s. 224(E)
Intellectual property
17
The Agency may license, sell or otherwise make available any patent, copyright, industrial design, trademark or other similar property right that is vested in Her Majesty in right of Canada under any Act or provision that the Agency enforces or administers by virtue of section 11.
1997, c. 6, s. 172014, c. 20, s. 366(E)
Interim injunction
18
The Agency may apply to a judge of a court of competent jurisdiction for an interim injunction enjoining any person from contravening an Act or provision that the Agency enforces or administers by virtue of section 11, whether or not a prosecution has been instituted in respect of that contravention.
Recalls
Recall order
19
(1)
Where the Minister believes on reasonable grounds that a product regulated under an Act or provision that the Agency enforces or administers by virtue of section 11 poses a risk to public, animal or plant health, the Minister may, by notice served on any person selling, marketing or distributing the product, order that the product be recalled or sent to a place designated by the Minister.
Contravention of recall order
(2)
Any person who contravenes a recall order referred to in subsection (1) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months or to both.
Notification of order
(3)
For greater certainty, a recall order is not a statutory instrument for the purposes of the Statutory Instruments Act, but no person shall be convicted of an offence under subsection (2) unless the person was notified of the order.
Regulations
19.1
The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the recall of products regulated under an Act or provision that the Agency enforces or administers by virtue of section 11.
2012, c. 24, s. 105
Review of Certain Measures
Review officer
19.2
The Minister may designate as review officers any individual or class of individuals that are qualified to conduct reviews under section 19.3.
2012, c. 24, s. 105
Request for review
19.3
(1)
On the request of a prescribed person in relation to a prescribed decision made under an Act or provision that the Agency enforces or administers by virtue of section 11, a review officer must conduct a review of the decision in the prescribed manner subject to the regulations and the other provisions of this section.
Contents of request
(2)
The request must be made in the prescribed manner, contain the prescribed information and be made in the prescribed time after the making of the decision.
Ineligibility
(3)
The review officer must be a person other than the one who made the decision.
Restriction
(4)
The review is restricted to questions of fact alone or questions of mixed law and fact.
No authority to review
(5)
The review is not to be conducted if the request does not comply with subsection (2) or is frivolous, vexatious or not made in good faith.
Reasons for refusal
(6)
If subsection (5) applies, the person who made the request is to be, without delay, notified in writing of the reasons for the review not being conducted.
Decision not stayed
(7)
The conduct of the review does not stay the decision unless the review officer decides otherwise.
Decision on completion of review
(8)
On completion of the review, the review officer must confirm, vary or cancel the decision.
Notice
(9)
The person who made the request must, without delay, be notified in writing of the reasons for the review officer’s decision under subsection (8).
Regulations
(10)
The Governor in Council may make regulations prescribing anything that by this section is to be prescribed.
2012, c. 24, s. 105
Establishment of Federal-Provincial Corporations
Federal-provincial agreements
20
The Minister may, with the approval of the Governor in Council given on the recommendation of the Minister of Finance, enter into an agreement with one or more provincial governments for the provision of services or the carrying out of activities within the responsibilities of the Agency, in common with those governments.
Object of agreements
21
The agreement referred to in section 20 may authorize the Minister, jointly with one or more provincial governments, to have a corporation incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act, the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act or an equivalent provincial statute, or to acquire shares or participate in any corporation, in order to implement the agreement.
1997, c. 6, s. 21; 2009, c. 23, s. 318
Corporate Business Plan and Annual Report
Corporate business plan
22
(1)
As soon as possible after the Agency is established and at least once every five years after that, the Agency must submit a corporate business plan to the Minister for approval and the Minister must table a copy of the plan in each House of Parliament on any of the first fifteen days on which that House is sitting after the Minister approves the plan.
Contents of corporate business plan
(2)
The corporate business plan must include a statement of
(a)
the Agency’s objectives for the period to which the plan relates and for each year in that period;
(b)
the strategies that the Agency intends to use to achieve its objectives, including operational, financial and human resource strategies;
(c)
the Agency’s expected performance over that period; and
(d)
the Agency’s operating and capital budgets for each year of that period.
Updating of corporate business plan
(3)
The Agency may update its corporate business plan in its annual report.
Annual report
23
(1)
The President must, before September 30 of each year following the Agency’s first full year of operations, submit an annual report on the operations of the Agency for the preceding year to the Minister and the Minister must table a copy of the report in each House of Parliament on any of the first fifteen days on which that House is sitting after the Minister receives the report.
Form and contents
(2)
The annual report must include
(a)
the financial statements of the Agency;
(b)
information about the Agency’s performance with respect to the objectives established in the corporate business plan; and
(c)
any other information that the Minister or the Treasury Board may require to be included in it.
1997, c. 6, s. 23; 2012, c. 19, s. 186
Fees and Expenditures
Fees for services or use of facilities
24
(1)
Subject to the regulations, the Minister may fix the fees to be paid for a service or the use of a facility provided by the Agency.
Amount not to exceed cost
(2)
Fees fixed under subsection (1) may not exceed the cost to Her Majesty in right of Canada of providing the service or the use of the facility.
Fees for products, rights and privileges
25
Subject to the regulations, the Minister may fix fees in respect of products, rights and privileges provided by the Agency.
Service Fees Act
25.1
(1)
Sections 3 to 15 of the Service Fees Act do not apply to a fee fixed under section 24 for a service or the use of a facility provided by the Agency under the Safe Food for Canadians Act or to a fee fixed under section 25 in respect of products, rights and privileges provided by the Agency under that Act.
Application of sections 16 to 18
(2)
Despite subsection 22(1) of the Service Fees Act, sections 16 to 18 of that Act apply to a low-materiality fee within the meaning of that Act that is fixed under section 24 for a service or the use of a facility provided by the Agency under the Safe Food for Canadians Act or that is fixed under section 25 in respect of products, rights and privileges provided by the Agency under the Safe Food for Canadians Act.
2014, c. 20, s. 2522017, c. 20, s. 4532023, c. 26, s. 278
Consultation
26
(1)
Before fixing a fee under section 24 or 25, the Minister must consult with any persons or organizations that the Minister considers to be interested in the matter.
Publication
(2)
The Minister must publish any fee fixed under section 24 or 25 in the Canada Gazette within thirty days after fixing it.
Reference to Committee
(3)
Any fee fixed under section 24 or 25 stands permanently referred to the Committee referred to in section 19 of the Statutory Instruments Act, to be reviewed and scrutinized as if it were a statutory instrument.
Regulations
27
The Treasury Board may make regulations for the purposes of sections 24 to 26.
Collection of fees
28
The Agency may enter into an agreement with any person, provincial government or other authority respecting the collection of fees fixed under this Act or any other Act that the Agency enforces or administers by virtue of subsection 11(1) and, notwithstanding subsections 17(1) and (4) of the Financial Administration Act, authorizing that person, government or authority to withhold amounts from those fees.
Remission of fees
29
(1)
The Minister may remit all or part of any fee fixed under section 24 or 25 or under any Act that the Agency enforces or administers by virtue of subsection 11(1), and the interest on it.
Non-payment of fees
(2)
The Minister may withdraw or withhold a service, use of a facility, a product or conferral of a right or privilege within the responsibilities of the Agency, from any person who fails to pay the fee fixed for it if, in the Minister’s opinion, it is consistent with public health and safety.
Expenditure
30
In carrying out its responsibilities, the Agency may spend money that Parliament appropriates to it and revenues received by it through the conduct of its operations, including
(a)
payments for the sale, exchange, lease, loan, transfer or other disposition of personal or movable property;
(a.1)
payments for the sale, lease or other disposition or transfer of real or immovable property;
(b)
fees for the provision of a service or use of a facility or for a product, right or privilege; and
(c)
refunds of expenditures made in the previous fiscal year.
Accounting
Books and records
31
The Agency must keep books of account and records prepared according to generally accepted accounting principles.
Economic and Food Security Orders
Exemption
31.1
(1)
Subject to subsection (3), the Governor in Council may, on the recommendation of the appropriate Minister or appropriate Ministers, as the case may be, by order, on any conditions that the Governor in Council considers necessary, exempt persons, things or activities, or classes of persons, things or activities, from the application of any provision of an Act referred to in subsection 11(1) or a regulation made under one of those Acts, other than a provision of the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act or a regulation made under it — or from the application of any provision of the Food and Drugs Act, as it relates to food as defined in section 2 of that Act, other than a provision that relates to public health, safety or nutrition — if the Governor in Council is of the opinion that the exemption
(a)
is not likely to pose an unreasonable risk to food safety, animal health, plant health, human health or the environment; and
(b)
is necessary to protect national economic security, regional economic security or national food security.
Duration of order
(2)
An order made under subsection (1) is in effect for the period specified in the order, which must not be for more than three years after the day on which the order comes into force. The Governor in Council may extend the period once, for a further period of not more than three years, if the Governor in Council is of the opinion that the extension
(a)
is not likely to pose an unreasonable risk to food safety, animal health, plant health, human health or the environment; and
(b)
is necessary to protect national economic security, regional economic security or national food security.
Notice of proposed order
(3)
Before an order is made under subsection (1), a notice of the proposed order that includes the contents of the proposed order and the proposed duration of the order must be made public.
Order to be made public
(4)
An order made under subsection (1) must be made public as soon as practicable.
Reasons
(4.1)
No later than 60 days after the order is made, reasons for making the order must also be made public.
Non-application of Statutory Instruments Act
(5)
The Statutory Instruments Act does not apply in respect of an order made under subsection (1).
Regulations
(6)
The Governor in Council may make regulations
(a)
respecting orders referred to in subsection (1); and
(b)
defining “economic security” and “food security” for the purposes of this Act.
Definition of appropriate Minister
(7)
In subsection (1), appropriate Minister means the minister of the Crown in right of Canada who is responsible for the administration of the provision in respect of which the recommendation is made.
2026, c. 22, s. 50
Non-compliance with conditions
31.2
(1)
If a person fails to comply with a condition of an exemption in any order made under subsection 31.1(1), the exemption is deemed not to have applied in respect of
(a)
if the exemption is in relation to the person or a class of persons to which the person belongs, the person; or
(b)
if the exemption is in relation to a thing or activity or class of things or activities, the thing or activity in respect of which the person did not comply with the condition.
For greater certainty
(2)
For greater certainty, nothing in subsection (1) prevents an exemption from applying to a person, thing or activity in situations in which the conditions of the exemption are met.
2026, c. 22, s. 50
32
[Repealed, 2012, c. 19, s. 188]
Transitional Provisions
Appropriation Act
32.1
The provisions made by any appropriation Act for the fiscal year in which this section comes into force or a subsequent fiscal year, based on the Estimates for that year, to defray the charges and expenses of the public service of Canada within the Departments of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Fisheries and Oceans and Health in relation to any matter for which the Agency is responsible by virtue of section 11 are deemed to be an amount appropriated for defraying the charges and expenses of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in such amount as the Treasury Board may, on the recommendations of the Ministers of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Fisheries and Oceans and Health, determine.
Agency employees continued
33
(1)
On the coming into force of subsection 13(1), employees deployed to the Agency, or appointed to it by the Public Service Commission, are deemed to have been appointed by the President and continue to be employed by the Agency with the same tenure of office.
Pending competitions and appointments
(2)
On the coming into force of subsection 13(1), a competition being conducted or an appointment being made under the Public Service Employment Act shall continue to be conducted or made as if that section had not come into force.
Eligibility lists
34
An eligibility list made under the Public Service Employment Act that is valid on the coming into force of subsection 13(1) of this Act continues to be valid for the period provided for by subsection 17(2) of that Act, but that period may not be extended.
Pending appeals
35
(1)
An appeal commenced under section 21 of the Public Service Employment Act and not finally disposed of on the coming into force of subsection 13(1) of this Act shall be dealt with and disposed of in accordance with that Act as if that subsection had not come into force.
Other recourse
(2)
Any recourse commenced under the Public Service Employment Act that has not been finally dealt with on the coming into force of subsection 13(1) of this Act shall be dealt with and disposed of in accordance with that Act as if that subsection had not come into force.
Designations continued
36
Every inspector, analyst, grader, veterinary inspector or other officer appointed or designated under an Act referred to in section 11 to enforce or administer any Act or provision that the Agency enforces or administers by virtue of that section is deemed to be designated by the President under subsection 13(3), according to the terms of the original designation or appointment.
Consequential Amendments
37 to 89
[Amendments]
Conditional Amendments
90 and 91
[Amendments]
Repeal
92
[Repeal]
Coming into Force
Coming into force
*93
This Act, or any provision of this Act, or any provision of any Act enacted or amended by this Act, comes into force on a day or days to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.
*
[Note: Act, except subsection 13(1) and section 31, in force April 1, 1997, see SI/97-37; subsection 13(1) in force April 1, 1998, see SI/97-122; section 31 in force March 31, 2000, see SI/2000-21.]
RELATED PROVISIONS
— 2012, c. 19, s. 202
Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act
202
The obligations under sections 23 and 32 of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act, as those sections read immediately before the day on which this Act receives royal assent, continue to apply in respect of the fiscal year beginning on April 1, 2011 but do not apply in respect of any subsequent fiscal year.
— 2012, c. 24, s. 74
Seized things
74
Sections 28 to 37 apply in respect of any thing seized under the Fish Inspection Act, the Meat Inspection Act or the Canada Agricultural Products Act — or seized under the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act by a person designated as an inspector under the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act for the enforcement of the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act as it relates to food — that had not been returned to any person, released or forfeited, or removed from Canada, before the day on which section 1 comes into force.
Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act
C-16.561997
Preamble
WHEREAS the Government of Canada wishes to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of federal inspection and related services for food and animal and plant health by consolidating them;
WHEREAS the consolidation of those services under a single food inspection agency will contribute to consumer protection and facilitate a more uniform and consistent approach to safety and quality standards and risk-based inspection systems;
WHEREAS the Government of Canada wishes to have that food inspection agency deliver those services in a cost effective manner;
WHEREAS the Government of Canada wishes to promote trade and commerce;
AND WHEREAS the Government of Canada wishes to pursue a greater degree of collaboration and consultation between federal departments and with other orders of government in this area;
NOW, THEREFORE, Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows:
Short Title
Short title
1
This Act may be cited as the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act.
Interpretation
Definitions
2
The definitions in this section apply in this Act.
Agency means the Canadian Food Inspection Agency established by section 3. (Agence)
Minister means the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food. (ministre)
Establishment of the Agency
Establishment
3
There is hereby established a body corporate called the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, which may exercise powers only as an agent of Her Majesty in right of Canada.
Minister responsible
4
(1)
The Minister is responsible for and has the overall direction of the Agency.
Delegation by Minister
(2)
The Minister may delegate to any person any power, duty or function conferred on the Minister under this Act or any Act or provision that the Agency enforces or administers by virtue of section 11, except the power to make regulations and the power to delegate under this subsection.
Organization and Head Office
Appointment of Agency executives
5
The Governor in Council shall appoint a President and an Executive Vice-president of the Agency to hold office during pleasure for a term not exceeding five years, which term may be renewed for one or more further terms.
President’s powers
6
(1)
The President is chief executive officer of the Agency and has supervision over and direction of its work and staff. The President has the rank and all the powers of a deputy head of a Department.
Executive Vice-president’s powers
(2)
The Executive Vice-president shall exercise such powers and perform such duties and functions as the President may assign and shall act as President if that office is vacant or if the President is absent or incapacitated.
Delegation by President
7
The President may delegate to any person any power, duty or function conferred on the President under this Act or any other enactment.
Remuneration
8
The President and Executive Vice-president shall be paid such remuneration as is fixed by the Governor in Council.
Head office
9
The head office of the Agency shall be in the National Capital Region, as described in the schedule to the National Capital Act.
Advisory Board
Appointment of members
10
(1)
The Minister shall appoint an advisory board of not more than twelve members to hold office during pleasure for a term not exceeding three years, which term may be renewed for one or more further terms.
Role of advisory board
(2)
The board shall advise the Minister on any matter within the responsibilities of the Agency.
Representation
(3)
The Minister may appoint any person with relevant knowledge or experience to the advisory board, including persons from the agriculture, fisheries, food processing, food distribution and public health sectors, consumer groups or provincial or municipal governments.
Chairperson
(4)
The Minister shall appoint one of the members as Chairperson of the advisory board.
Fees for services
(5)
Each member of the advisory board shall be paid such fees for his or her services as are fixed by the Minister.
Travel and living expenses
(6)
Each member of the advisory board shall be reimbursed for reasonable travel and living expenses incurred by the member in the course of performing duties under this Act while absent from his or her ordinary place of residence.
Meetings
(7)
The Chairperson may determine the times and places at which the advisory board will meet.
Mandate of the Agency
Administration and enforcement
11
(1)
The Agency is responsible for the administration and enforcement of the Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Act, Feeds Act, Fertilizers Act, Health of Animals Act, Plant Breeders’ Rights Act, Plant Protection Act, Safe Food for Canadians Act and Seeds Act.
(2)
[Repealed, 2012, c. 24, s. 103]
Food and Drugs Act
(3)
The Agency is responsible for
(a)
the enforcement of the Food and Drugs Act as it relates to food, as defined in section 2 of that Act; and
(b)
the administration of the provisions of the Food and Drugs Act as they relate to food, as defined in section 2 of that Act, except those provisions that relate to public health, safety or nutrition.
For greater certainty
(4)
For greater certainty, in carrying out its responsibilities under subsections (1) and (3) — except in relation to a provision of the Food and Drugs Act, as it relates to food as defined in section 2 of that Act, and that relates to public health, safety or nutrition — the Agency may, among other things, as appropriate and in accordance with the purposes of the Acts referred to in those subsections,
(a)
protect and mitigate risks to food safety, animal health, plant health, human health and the environment;
(b)
support compliance with regulatory requirements;
(c)
contribute to public awareness in relation to food safety, animal health, plant health, human health and the protection of the environment;
(d)
contribute to consumer protection;
(e)
uphold Canada’s international reputation for food safety, animal health and plant health;
(f)
facilitate trade and commerce; and
(g)
consider national economic security, regional economic security or national food security.
(5)
[Repealed, 2026, c. 22, s. 48]
1997, c. 6, s. 11; 2005, c. 38, s. 532012, c. 24, s. 1032026, c. 22, s. 48
Responsibilities
Minister of Health
11.1
The Minister of Health is responsible for establishing policies and standards relating to the safety and nutritional quality of food sold in Canada and assessing the effectiveness of the Agency’s activities related to food safety.
2026, c. 22, s. 49
Canada Border Services Agency
11.2
The Canada Border Services Agency is responsible for the enforcement of the program legislation referred to in paragraph (b) of the definition program legislation in section 2 of the Canada Border Services Agency Act as that program legislation relates to the delivery of initial passenger and import inspection services performed at airports and other Canadian border points other than import service centres.
2026, c. 22, s. 49
Human Resources
Separate agency
12
The Agency is a separate agency under the Federal Public Sector Labour Relations Act.
1997, c. 6, s. 12; 2003, c. 22, s. 135; 2017, c. 9, s. 55
President’s authority to appoint employees
13
(1)
The President has the authority to appoint the employees of the Agency.
Terms and conditions of employment
(2)
The President may set the terms and conditions of employment for employees of the Agency and assign duties to them.
Enforcement officers
(3)
The President may designate any person or class of persons as inspectors, analysts, graders, veterinary inspectors or other officers for the enforcement or administration of any Act or provision that the Agency enforces or administers by virtue of section 11, in respect of any matter referred to in the designation.
Powers of the Agency
Contracts and agreements
14
(1)
The Agency may enter into contracts, memoranda of understanding and other agreements with a department or agency of the Government of Canada or the government of a province and with any other person or organization in the name of Her Majesty in right of Canada or in its own name.
International arrangements
(2)
In exercising its responsibilities, the Agency may negotiate and enter into arrangements for the implementation of technical requirements for the international movement of products or other things regulated under an Act or provision that the Agency enforces or administers by virtue of section 11.
Legal proceedings
15
Actions, suits or other legal proceedings in respect of any right or obligation acquired or incurred by the Agency, whether in its own name or in the name of Her Majesty in right of Canada, may be brought or taken by or against the Agency in the name of the Agency in any court that would have jurisdiction if the Agency were not an agent of Her Majesty.
Choice of service providers
16
Notwithstanding section 9 of the Department of Public Works and Government Services Act, the Agency may, with the approval of the Governor in Council given on the recommendation of the Treasury Board, procure goods and services, including legal services, from outside the federal public administration.
1997, c. 6, s. 16; 2003, c. 22, s. 224(E)
Intellectual property
17
The Agency may license, sell or otherwise make available any patent, copyright, industrial design, trademark or other similar property right that is vested in Her Majesty in right of Canada under any Act or provision that the Agency enforces or administers by virtue of section 11.
1997, c. 6, s. 172014, c. 20, s. 366(E)
Interim injunction
18
The Agency may apply to a judge of a court of competent jurisdiction for an interim injunction enjoining any person from contravening an Act or provision that the Agency enforces or administers by virtue of section 11, whether or not a prosecution has been instituted in respect of that contravention.
Recalls
Recall order
19
(1)
Where the Minister believes on reasonable grounds that a product regulated under an Act or provision that the Agency enforces or administers by virtue of section 11 poses a risk to public, animal or plant health, the Minister may, by notice served on any person selling, marketing or distributing the product, order that the product be recalled or sent to a place designated by the Minister.
Contravention of recall order
(2)
Any person who contravenes a recall order referred to in subsection (1) is guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding $50,000 or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding six months or to both.
Notification of order
(3)
For greater certainty, a recall order is not a statutory instrument for the purposes of the Statutory Instruments Act, but no person shall be convicted of an offence under subsection (2) unless the person was notified of the order.
Regulations
19.1
The Governor in Council may make regulations respecting the recall of products regulated under an Act or provision that the Agency enforces or administers by virtue of section 11.
2012, c. 24, s. 105
Review of Certain Measures
Review officer
19.2
The Minister may designate as review officers any individual or class of individuals that are qualified to conduct reviews under section 19.3.
2012, c. 24, s. 105
Request for review
19.3
(1)
On the request of a prescribed person in relation to a prescribed decision made under an Act or provision that the Agency enforces or administers by virtue of section 11, a review officer must conduct a review of the decision in the prescribed manner subject to the regulations and the other provisions of this section.
Contents of request
(2)
The request must be made in the prescribed manner, contain the prescribed information and be made in the prescribed time after the making of the decision.
Ineligibility
(3)
The review officer must be a person other than the one who made the decision.
Restriction
(4)
The review is restricted to questions of fact alone or questions of mixed law and fact.
No authority to review
(5)
The review is not to be conducted if the request does not comply with subsection (2) or is frivolous, vexatious or not made in good faith.
Reasons for refusal
(6)
If subsection (5) applies, the person who made the request is to be, without delay, notified in writing of the reasons for the review not being conducted.
Decision not stayed
(7)
The conduct of the review does not stay the decision unless the review officer decides otherwise.
Decision on completion of review
(8)
On completion of the review, the review officer must confirm, vary or cancel the decision.
Notice
(9)
The person who made the request must, without delay, be notified in writing of the reasons for the review officer’s decision under subsection (8).
Regulations
(10)
The Governor in Council may make regulations prescribing anything that by this section is to be prescribed.
2012, c. 24, s. 105
Establishment of Federal-Provincial Corporations
Federal-provincial agreements
20
The Minister may, with the approval of the Governor in Council given on the recommendation of the Minister of Finance, enter into an agreement with one or more provincial governments for the provision of services or the carrying out of activities within the responsibilities of the Agency, in common with those governments.
Object of agreements
21
The agreement referred to in section 20 may authorize the Minister, jointly with one or more provincial governments, to have a corporation incorporated under the Canada Business Corporations Act, the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act or an equivalent provincial statute, or to acquire shares or participate in any corporation, in order to implement the agreement.
1997, c. 6, s. 21; 2009, c. 23, s. 318
Corporate Business Plan and Annual Report
Corporate business plan
22
(1)
As soon as possible after the Agency is established and at least once every five years after that, the Agency must submit a corporate business plan to the Minister for approval and the Minister must table a copy of the plan in each House of Parliament on any of the first fifteen days on which that House is sitting after the Minister approves the plan.
Contents of corporate business plan
(2)
The corporate business plan must include a statement of
(a)
the Agency’s objectives for the period to which the plan relates and for each year in that period;
(b)
the strategies that the Agency intends to use to achieve its objectives, including operational, financial and human resource strategies;
(c)
the Agency’s expected performance over that period; and
(d)
the Agency’s operating and capital budgets for each year of that period.
Updating of corporate business plan
(3)
The Agency may update its corporate business plan in its annual report.
Annual report
23
(1)
The President must, before September 30 of each year following the Agency’s first full year of operations, submit an annual report on the operations of the Agency for the preceding year to the Minister and the Minister must table a copy of the report in each House of Parliament on any of the first fifteen days on which that House is sitting after the Minister receives the report.
Form and contents
(2)
The annual report must include
(a)
the financial statements of the Agency;
(b)
information about the Agency’s performance with respect to the objectives established in the corporate business plan; and
(c)
any other information that the Minister or the Treasury Board may require to be included in it.
1997, c. 6, s. 23; 2012, c. 19, s. 186
Fees and Expenditures
Fees for services or use of facilities
24
(1)
Subject to the regulations, the Minister may fix the fees to be paid for a service or the use of a facility provided by the Agency.
Amount not to exceed cost
(2)
Fees fixed under subsection (1) may not exceed the cost to Her Majesty in right of Canada of providing the service or the use of the facility.
Fees for products, rights and privileges
25
Subject to the regulations, the Minister may fix fees in respect of products, rights and privileges provided by the Agency.
Service Fees Act
25.1
(1)
Sections 3 to 15 of the Service Fees Act do not apply to a fee fixed under section 24 for a service or the use of a facility provided by the Agency under the Safe Food for Canadians Act or to a fee fixed under section 25 in respect of products, rights and privileges provided by the Agency under that Act.
Application of sections 16 to 18
(2)
Despite subsection 22(1) of the Service Fees Act, sections 16 to 18 of that Act apply to a low-materiality fee within the meaning of that Act that is fixed under section 24 for a service or the use of a facility provided by the Agency under the Safe Food for Canadians Act or that is fixed under section 25 in respect of products, rights and privileges provided by the Agency under the Safe Food for Canadians Act.
2014, c. 20, s. 2522017, c. 20, s. 4532023, c. 26, s. 278
Consultation
26
(1)
Before fixing a fee under section 24 or 25, the Minister must consult with any persons or organizations that the Minister considers to be interested in the matter.
Publication
(2)
The Minister must publish any fee fixed under section 24 or 25 in the Canada Gazette within thirty days after fixing it.
Reference to Committee
(3)
Any fee fixed under section 24 or 25 stands permanently referred to the Committee referred to in section 19 of the Statutory Instruments Act, to be reviewed and scrutinized as if it were a statutory instrument.
Regulations
27
The Treasury Board may make regulations for the purposes of sections 24 to 26.
Collection of fees
28
The Agency may enter into an agreement with any person, provincial government or other authority respecting the collection of fees fixed under this Act or any other Act that the Agency enforces or administers by virtue of subsection 11(1) and, notwithstanding subsections 17(1) and (4) of the Financial Administration Act, authorizing that person, government or authority to withhold amounts from those fees.
Remission of fees
29
(1)
The Minister may remit all or part of any fee fixed under section 24 or 25 or under any Act that the Agency enforces or administers by virtue of subsection 11(1), and the interest on it.
Non-payment of fees
(2)
The Minister may withdraw or withhold a service, use of a facility, a product or conferral of a right or privilege within the responsibilities of the Agency, from any person who fails to pay the fee fixed for it if, in the Minister’s opinion, it is consistent with public health and safety.
Expenditure
30
In carrying out its responsibilities, the Agency may spend money that Parliament appropriates to it and revenues received by it through the conduct of its operations, including
(a)
payments for the sale, exchange, lease, loan, transfer or other disposition of personal or movable property;
(a.1)
payments for the sale, lease or other disposition or transfer of real or immovable property;
(b)
fees for the provision of a service or use of a facility or for a product, right or privilege; and
(c)
refunds of expenditures made in the previous fiscal year.
Accounting
Books and records
31
The Agency must keep books of account and records prepared according to generally accepted accounting principles.
Economic and Food Security Orders
Exemption
31.1
(1)
Subject to subsection (3), the Governor in Council may, on the recommendation of the appropriate Minister or appropriate Ministers, as the case may be, by order, on any conditions that the Governor in Council considers necessary, exempt persons, things or activities, or classes of persons, things or activities, from the application of any provision of an Act referred to in subsection 11(1) or a regulation made under one of those Acts, other than a provision of the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act or a regulation made under it — or from the application of any provision of the Food and Drugs Act, as it relates to food as defined in section 2 of that Act, other than a provision that relates to public health, safety or nutrition — if the Governor in Council is of the opinion that the exemption
(a)
is not likely to pose an unreasonable risk to food safety, animal health, plant health, human health or the environment; and
(b)
is necessary to protect national economic security, regional economic security or national food security.
Duration of order
(2)
An order made under subsection (1) is in effect for the period specified in the order, which must not be for more than three years after the day on which the order comes into force. The Governor in Council may extend the period once, for a further period of not more than three years, if the Governor in Council is of the opinion that the extension
(a)
is not likely to pose an unreasonable risk to food safety, animal health, plant health, human health or the environment; and
(b)
is necessary to protect national economic security, regional economic security or national food security.
Notice of proposed order
(3)
Before an order is made under subsection (1), a notice of the proposed order that includes the contents of the proposed order and the proposed duration of the order must be made public.
Order to be made public
(4)
An order made under subsection (1) must be made public as soon as practicable.
Reasons
(4.1)
No later than 60 days after the order is made, reasons for making the order must also be made public.
Non-application of Statutory Instruments Act
(5)
The Statutory Instruments Act does not apply in respect of an order made under subsection (1).
Regulations
(6)
The Governor in Council may make regulations
(a)
respecting orders referred to in subsection (1); and
(b)
defining “economic security” and “food security” for the purposes of this Act.
Definition of appropriate Minister
(7)
In subsection (1), appropriate Minister means the minister of the Crown in right of Canada who is responsible for the administration of the provision in respect of which the recommendation is made.
2026, c. 22, s. 50
Non-compliance with conditions
31.2
(1)
If a person fails to comply with a condition of an exemption in any order made under subsection 31.1(1), the exemption is deemed not to have applied in respect of
(a)
if the exemption is in relation to the person or a class of persons to which the person belongs, the person; or
(b)
if the exemption is in relation to a thing or activity or class of things or activities, the thing or activity in respect of which the person did not comply with the condition.
For greater certainty
(2)
For greater certainty, nothing in subsection (1) prevents an exemption from applying to a person, thing or activity in situations in which the conditions of the exemption are met.
2026, c. 22, s. 50
32
[Repealed, 2012, c. 19, s. 188]
Transitional Provisions
Appropriation Act
32.1
The provisions made by any appropriation Act for the fiscal year in which this section comes into force or a subsequent fiscal year, based on the Estimates for that year, to defray the charges and expenses of the public service of Canada within the Departments of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Fisheries and Oceans and Health in relation to any matter for which the Agency is responsible by virtue of section 11 are deemed to be an amount appropriated for defraying the charges and expenses of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in such amount as the Treasury Board may, on the recommendations of the Ministers of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Fisheries and Oceans and Health, determine.
Agency employees continued
33
(1)
On the coming into force of subsection 13(1), employees deployed to the Agency, or appointed to it by the Public Service Commission, are deemed to have been appointed by the President and continue to be employed by the Agency with the same tenure of office.
Pending competitions and appointments
(2)
On the coming into force of subsection 13(1), a competition being conducted or an appointment being made under the Public Service Employment Act shall continue to be conducted or made as if that section had not come into force.
Eligibility lists
34
An eligibility list made under the Public Service Employment Act that is valid on the coming into force of subsection 13(1) of this Act continues to be valid for the period provided for by subsection 17(2) of that Act, but that period may not be extended.
Pending appeals
35
(1)
An appeal commenced under section 21 of the Public Service Employment Act and not finally disposed of on the coming into force of subsection 13(1) of this Act shall be dealt with and disposed of in accordance with that Act as if that subsection had not come into force.
Other recourse
(2)
Any recourse commenced under the Public Service Employment Act that has not been finally dealt with on the coming into force of subsection 13(1) of this Act shall be dealt with and disposed of in accordance with that Act as if that subsection had not come into force.
Designations continued
36
Every inspector, analyst, grader, veterinary inspector or other officer appointed or designated under an Act referred to in section 11 to enforce or administer any Act or provision that the Agency enforces or administers by virtue of that section is deemed to be designated by the President under subsection 13(3), according to the terms of the original designation or appointment.
Consequential Amendments
37 to 89
[Amendments]
Conditional Amendments
90 and 91
[Amendments]
Repeal
92
[Repeal]
Coming into Force
Coming into force
*93
This Act, or any provision of this Act, or any provision of any Act enacted or amended by this Act, comes into force on a day or days to be fixed by order of the Governor in Council.
*
[Note: Act, except subsection 13(1) and section 31, in force April 1, 1997, see SI/97-37; subsection 13(1) in force April 1, 1998, see SI/97-122; section 31 in force March 31, 2000, see SI/2000-21.]
RELATED PROVISIONS
— 2012, c. 19, s. 202
Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act
202
The obligations under sections 23 and 32 of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act, as those sections read immediately before the day on which this Act receives royal assent, continue to apply in respect of the fiscal year beginning on April 1, 2011 but do not apply in respect of any subsequent fiscal year.
— 2012, c. 24, s. 74
Seized things
74
Sections 28 to 37 apply in respect of any thing seized under the Fish Inspection Act, the Meat Inspection Act or the Canada Agricultural Products Act — or seized under the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act by a person designated as an inspector under the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act for the enforcement of the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act as it relates to food — that had not been returned to any person, released or forfeited, or removed from Canada, before the day on which section 1 comes into force.