Regulatory
REGULATORY NEWS FOR THE WEEK OF SEPTEMBER 3, 2024
When going shopping for back-to-school supplies, choose products labelled for children’s use. Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) is taking action to prevent the introduction and spread of all AIS, including Zebra Mussels. This summer, DFO conducted roadside inspections along the Trans-Canada Highway at the Manitoba and Ontario border. The governments of Canada and Ontario are investing up to $22.6 million through the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership (Sustainable CAP) to expand production capacity and boost energy efficiency in the agriculture and food sector. The Agri-Tech Innovation Initiative is supporting 319 farming and agri-food businesses to help them invest in innovative technology, equipment or processes that will expand production capacity or enhance efficiency. Food manufacturing in Canada saw 11 percent productivity growth between 2013 and 2017. Food manufacturing is the largest sector in Canada in terms of employment and sales, and it plays a crucial role in addressing the need to sustainably feed a growing global population, according to a recent Farm Credit Canada (FCC) report. The Government of Canada is continuing to advance its work of protecting animal health by establishing a foot and mouth disease (FMD) vaccine bank. The vaccine bank is a key part of Canada’s response plans to control and ultimately eliminate an outbreak of FMD should it be detected in Canadian animals. Order authorizing the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food to enter into the AGREEMENT with New Brunswick to provide federal contributions of up to $15 million to assist potato producers in New Brunswick affected by excess rainfall in 2023 with the extraordinary costs incurred as a result of the extreme weather they experienced
Alberta Health is monitoring an emerging Shiga-toxin-producing E. coli outbreak at the Aspen Lakes Discovery Centre (east location) licensed childcare facility in Blackfalds. The Ontario government is creating a fish sanctuary to protect vulnerable salmon on the Ganaraska River in Port Hope during peak migration season. An outbreak of whooping cough (Pertussis) has been declared for the entire province. This expands an outbreak initially declared on the Acadian Peninsula at the end of June. A report from the Workers’ Compensation Review Committee focuses on 10 key priorities to improve the province’s workers’ compensation system. Compensation and benefits, coverage, and the timely and safe return to work are among the issues with recommendations from the committee. This was the first review of the workers’ compensation system in more than 20 years. FSIS is announcing the availability of an updated version of its guidelines on documentation that is needed to support animal-raising or environment-related claims on meat or poultry product labelling. Official establishments submit this documentation to the Agency when they apply for approval of labels with animal-raising or environment-related claims. The updated guideline includes changes in response to updated scientific information, FSIS sampling data, askFSIS questions, public comments, petitions, and other meetings with Agency stakeholders. With the bird flu virus detected in cow’s milk, U.S. health authorities have warned against potential exposure sources, including drinking raw or unpasteurized milk. They have also reiterated that consuming uncooked or undercooked poultry or beef products can lead to illness. Despite these warnings, a new nationally representative survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania reveals that many Americans are unsure of the correct internal temperatures needed to cook food safely. Foodborne illness caused by contaminated agricultural water is a significant problem. Although Congress has mandated that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) specifically address the issue, the agency has struggled to find a sufficient scientific basis to justify determinate water quality standards for farming. Researchers at the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) are responding to the increasingly uncertain climate. The warmer and more unpredictable weather has been a source of instability on U.S. farms. ARS agro-ecologists turned to history for a solution to this challenge, which inspired them to better understand the benefits of crop rotations. Scientists found illness after travel abroad contributes substantially to the burden of infection in North East England. There has also been no reduction in the proportion of travel-associated infections in non-pandemic years since 2013. Foods that do not contain novel DNA will not be considered genetically modified, even though they may have been processed via new breeding techniques, according to new proposals from Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ). As the bakery and snacks industries increasingly focus on health-conscious consumers, understanding food and beverage advertising trends targeting children is crucial. Ethylene oxide, Sudan dyes, and products skipping border controls are examples of recent possible frauds and other non-compliances raised by EU member states. The number of food and other fraud suspicions discussed by European countries increased in July. The 325 alerts are up from 265 in June and 281 in May, similar to the 341 in April, 345 in March, and 318 in February. There were 277 in January. Safety Share Post-Labor Day leftovers need to be properly stored to avoid foodborne illnesses. Whether you’ve grilled extra burgers or have surplus salads, following USDA guidelines will ensure that your holiday enjoyment isn’t followed by health concerns. Have an event you would like to share? Please send details to [email protected]. Join a free webinar to address issues around hybrid workplace risk management and workplace culture. Canadian Institute (CI) is pleased to announce that the 2nd Advanced Summit on Food Law and Regulation Canada will be returning to Mississauga, ON on September 25 – 26, 2024 The National Advisory Committee on Microbiological Criteria for Foods (NACMCF) will hold a hybrid in-person and virtual public meeting on September 24, 2024, and September 26, 2024, to provide an update on the FSIS Genomics and Cronobacter spp. in Powdered Infant Formula charges. Concurrent subcommittee meetings will be held on September 25, 2024, that will be open to the public to attend virtually. Attendance to all meetings is free but pre-registration by Wednesday, September 18, 2024, is requested. Brett Greenlee, the Key Accounts and Sales Manager at Trace Analytics, will lead a discussion covering all the basics of compressed air testing. Food Safety Magazine will host a webinar examining the “new” climate-related risks to food safety and exploring the critical responses required to resulting sourcing/supply challenges.Advocacy
Avoid:
– Products made with boric acid
– Craft dyes
– Powdered clays and paints
Click on the link above to learn more about using arts and crafts materials safely.Canadian Federal News
Canadian Provincial News
US News
International News
Other Relevant Information
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