Government protects food safety, reduces red tape

May 3, 2012, Ottawa – As part of the Jobs, Growth, and Long-Term Prosperity Act, the Harper
Government last week introduced amendments to the Food and Drugs Act that
will continue to protect Canadian food safety, while reducing red tape
that currently delays safe foods from getting to market.

May 3, 2012, Ottawa – As part of the Jobs, Growth, and Long-Term Prosperity Act, the Harper
Government last week introduced amendments to the Food and Drugs Act that
will continue to protect Canadian food safety, while reducing red tape
that currently delays safe foods from getting to market.

"The current tools we use to regulate some food products
are rigid and outdated," said the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Minister
of Health. "Our new approach will allow more timely approvals of safe,
innovative products, while still protecting the health and safety of
Canadians."

The new tools, called marketing authorizations and incorporation by reference, will streamline regulatory processes,
while maintaining the same rigorous pre-market safety assessments to
support Health Canada decisions.

Currently, once Health Canada food scientists have made
certain safety decisions – be it around a new food additive, vitamin or
mineral nutrient or approving a new health claim on a food – it can take
many months, and sometimes even years, to implement that decision
through a change in the regulations.

Not only do these delays limit access to innovative and
safe products for Canadians, but they also limit the department's
ability to respond to new scientific information that might have an
impact on the health and safety of Canadians.

With these changes, the government will be able to focus
its efforts and resources where they will have the greatest impact on
the health of Canadians. These amendments will also help address the
response to the Weatherill recommendations, which were specific about
the need for improved processes for food additives.