Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF JANUARY 23, 2023
Although many recalls will carry no penalties from government agencies, they are nonetheless very expensive. The costs will increase based on the level of preparedness and damage to supplier or brand reputation that results. There are also hidden costs to consider; including a possibility of criminal guilt and incarceration. The costs of a recall range from significant to catastrophic and impact both importers of food and food processors. The modernization of the Food & Drug Act in Canada; Safe Food for Canadians Act and Regulations were conceived to improve food safety which will reduce recalls and it’s inherent costs. The relevance of investing resources in prevention has never been more important. There are, or will be, over 82,000 new regulatees impacted in the food sector. We hear from them on the struggles and challenges that they face because they have difficulty grasping the return on investment of a food safety program. Funding is hard to find and small entrepreneurs do not know where to begin when they are informed that their Food Establishment Licence has been denied because they do not have an adequate preventive control plan. We are constantly reminded by small and medium sized enterprises that the cost of compliance is too high. To counter we remind entrepreneurs and new start-ups of certain exemptions to preventive control plans that are offered to new businesses with less than C$100,000 in sales; at minimum a traceability and recall program is a fundamental requirement for all licensees. Other parts of the preventive control plan can be deferred and implemented as the business grows. Each company can develop their own calculation tool by considering and including the following: We’re available to help you assess your programs and financial exposure as needed. The National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) released its 21st edition of the Fire Protection Handbook (FPH). The two-volume printed set is now available for pre-order. One of the organization’s most significant publications, the Handbook is a comprehensive, one-of-a-kind reference guide of fire and life safety prevention and protection information for students and professionals across a wide range of industries worldwide. These guidelines have been developed by the appropriate ICH Expert Working Groups and have been subject to consultation by the regulatory parties, in accordance with the ICH Process. The ICH Assembly has endorsed the final draft and recommended its implementation by the membership of ICH. A Ministerial Condition has been published for the substance sulfonic acids, branched alkane hydroxy and branched alkene, sodium salts, Confidential Substance Identity Number 18520-7. The CVSA will go over updates to the 2023 North American Standard Out-of-Service Criteria, which will go into effect on April 1, 2023, and a new inspection bulletin. Other updates, information and tools will be presented to assist jurisdictions with upcoming in-service refresher training. The webinar will be held January 26, 2023 at 1pm ET.
As of January 1, 2023, you will face penalties if you do not meet provincial ELD requirements when operating in Ontario. This applies to vehicles with licence plates from Ontario or any other jurisdiction. It’s time to report your annual payroll (Form 100). The filing deadline is Feb. 28, 2023. The FDA posted translated materials for the FSMA final rule on food traceability in five languages: Indonesian, Simplified Chinese, Spanish, Thai and Vietnamese. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the first opportunities for public input on new programs focused on lower carbon construction materials made possible by a $350 million investment from President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act. OSHA’s maximum penalties for serious and other-than-serious violations will increase from $14,502 per violation to $15,625 per violation. The maximum penalty for willful or repeated violations will increase from $145,027 per violation to $156,259 per violation. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is amending the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) to collect fees from chemical manufacturers and importers to offset the costs. The staff presentations for the Zero-Emission Forklift Rulemaking Workshop on January 24, 2023, are now available. A Codex expert panel discussion “Is the Codex system fit for the future?” took place on Friday 20 January 2023 at the annual Global Forum for Food and Agriculture organized, in Berlin, Germany, by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture (BMEL). The panel discussed the role of science in Codex, whether its current governance and mandate were fit for purpose and also whether Codex was setting too many, too few and the right kinds of food safety standards as it embarks on its next 60 years. The Candidate List of substances of very high concern now contains 233 entries for chemicals that can harm people or the environment. Safety Share Slips, trips and falls are a major cause of injury everywhere. Nova Scotia has resources to help you turn wet and slippery into safe and sound. Outside workers are susceptible to cold stress, hypothermia and frostbite. Slips, trips and falls at work are more common due to wet, slippery conditions at work, inside and out. And there is an increased risk of vehicle collisions for drivers due to slippery surfaces, snowstorms and reduced visibility. Have an event you would like to share? Please send details to [email protected]. Are you prepared for emergencies? Join WSPS for a discussion about emergency preparedness and how you can ensure you are ready. The Guelph Organic Conference will be returning in 2023 for a hybrid in-person and online event, now hosted by the Organic Council of Ontario (OCO). Learn more about the RACE process of hazard recognition or identification, risk assessment methodologies, control options, and the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of controls, and learn the value of a coordinated hazard identification and risk assessment system. The European Commission has revised some of the information requirements for registering chemicals under REACH (Action 1, Action 2). This webinar focuses on the new and amended completeness check rules brought by this revision to help you prepare a complete registration dossier. We will also give you an overview of the process in general. Alberta Chemistry and Plastics Day is an annual event designed to build dialogue on common issues, better understand industry and government positions, and get to know new participants from both industry and government. FDA and Health Canada will be co-hosting a regional public meeting to provide information to stakeholders and solicit input prior to the next ICH biannual Assembly meeting scheduled for June 12-13, 2023. No fee to attend. The 2023 Consumer Food Safety Education Conference (CFSEC) will bring answers and clarity to questions like this and more. While the science behind safe food handling and hand hygiene guidance hasn’t changed, the way people are sourcing their food, experiencing their food and receiving information is changing. Take this opportunity to mark in your calendars next years Bakery Showcase, May 14, 15 2023 in Vancouver BC. There is no other health and safety event like this in Canada. Make a plan to join us for this two-day national event that will bring together leaders, change makers, and subject experts representing government, labour, and workplaces, to share their knowledge and experience around current and emerging health and safety issues.Advocacy
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