Canada’s Strategy for a Safe and Nutritious Food Supply

1. Canada’s Strategy for a Safe and Nutritious Food Supply Canadian Supply Chain Food Safety Coalition November 14, 2005 Anne-Marie St-Laurent, Health Canada Greg Orriss, CFIA

2. Today’s presentation will… • Describe: • The Strategy’s aim and features, • How it is being developed • Seek your input on: • Key elements for the Strategy, • How the Coalition wishes to be engaged during the upcoming consultation

3. What is the aim of the Strategy… It is intended to: • Support improved decision making by all levels of government through the identification and analysis of cross jurisdictional food safety issues. • Facilitate reporting and demonstrating achievements in food safety and nutritional quality to the public as well as to our international partners. • Support informed choices by consumers enabling them to plan and prepare safe and nutritious meals for their families.

4. Scope of the Strategy… • Addresses the entire food continuum, from farm to table, including fish and seafood. • Encompasses all food sold in Canada, whether it is domestically produced or imported from abroad. • Intended to protect and promote not just the microbiological and chemical safety of food, but also its nutritional quality.

5. Getting the foundation right… The Strategy includes: • A Vision Statement describing the end result this Strategy wishes to achieve • Measurable public health outcomes which will measure the ultimate success of the Strategy • Guiding Principles which describe how governments should conduct their activities and deliver programs to promote the safety and nutritional quality of food; • Key Results Areas which identify specific outcomes for the collaborative and collective activities of F/P/T governments in pursuing this Strategy.

6. Draft Vision A demonstrably safe and nutritious food supply that helps protect and promote good health, and justifies confidence in the Canadian food system at home and abroad.

7. A demonstrably safe and nutritious food supply Public Health Outcomes measured by: • Reducing Canadian’s exposure to food-borne pathogens and chemical hazards in foods and decreasing illnesses associated to foods • Improving the nutritional quality of Canada’s food supply to support consumer’s healthy eating choices

8. Confidence in the Canadian food supply • The Strategy defines Key Results Area for F/P/T governments with proposed National Deliverables for improving the food safety system in Canada. • Opportunity for enhanced collective and collaborative action among governments and in partnership with others (academia, industry). • Maintain and expand market access by demonstrating that Canada’s food products are safe and nutritious.

9. Measuring Public Health Outcomes • Three measurement areas: • Food supply • Interventions along the food continuum • Health (decrease in illnesses and associated costs) • Three Expert Panels working on developing measurements: • Pathogens • Chemical contaminants • Nutritional quality

10. Measuring Public Health Outcomes • Proposed measurements should identify: • What hazard/nutrient food commodity combinations • What will be measured • What baseline data is available or needs to be generated • What interventions could be applied and at what point of the food continuum / who will be applying the interventions • What is the desired outcome and time required to achieve it (e.g., 3 years, 5 years)

11. Measuring Public Health Outcomes • Rationales for proposed measurements should address the following: • Strength of evidence of association to a disease • Burden of disease and potential for health gain • Outbreak potential • Preventability • Level of public concern • Disparities amongst groups • Economic, social and political impact

12. Measuring System Improvements • Three key result areas for F/P/T governments: • Strengthening food safety risk management • Improving the food regulatory and inspection system • Enhancing food safety along the food continuum

13. Measuring System Improvements • Strengthening food safety risk management • Establishing national science–based priorities and policies • Optimizing the evidence and science foundation • Integrated intelligence • Food surveillance • Health surveillance • Research

14. Measuring System Improvements • Improving the food regulatory and inspection system • Strengthening food safety laws • Using preventive controls and outcome-based standards (e.g., FSEP) • Applying effective enforcement

15. Measuring System Improvements • Enhancing food safety across the food continuum • Supporting industry’s voluntary programs • Promoting informed consumer choice • Building capacity through training

16. Engagement of F/P/T partners • CFISIG December 2004 • Supportive of federal work and leadership on the development of a Strategy • Discussions in 8 provinces April-July 2005 • Strong support for content and process • CFISIG Working Group formed June 2005 • Guide further development of the Strategy • Guide public consultations • Connect with ADMs/DMS Health & Agriculture • Seek endorsement by Ministers Health & Agriculture

17. Linkage with other major policy initiatives… • Health Goals for Canada • Healthy Living Strategy • APF and beyond • Emergency Preparedness • Smart Regulations

18. Path Forward… • Present to CFISIG (Nov. 22, 2005) • Further develop draft Strategy • Consultations (2006) • Final Strategy (late 2006) • Seek Ministers Health & Agriculture endorsement (late 2006)

19. Discussion points… • What elements do you see as important to include in the Strategy ? • How does the Coalition see itself being engaged during the consultation ? • Are there upcoming events that represent opportunities to raise stakeholder awareness of the draft Strategy ?