AGRI Committee Report

Recommendation 1:

The Subcommittee recommends that the government call for a fully transparent and independent public inquiry, with all the powers provided under the Inquiries Act, into the actions of the federal government, its agencies and departments in relation to the events leading up to, during, and subsequent to the listeriosis crisis of the summer 2008.

Recommendation 2:

The Subcommittee recommends that the government ensure that up-to-date food safety and processing technologies as well as new scientific evidence be included in all risk assessments and that this should be achieved by establishing a process of ongoing review of food safety standards.

Recommendation 3:

The Subcommittee recommends that the government increase its collaborative efforts with the United States and consult with stakeholders and consumers on the possibility of developing a common approach to food safety standards.

Recommendation 4:

The Subcommittee recommends that the government encourage the implementation of HACCP-based food safety systems certified by the appropriate food safety authority.

Recommendation 5:

The Subcommittee recommends that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, cooperatively with the union, finds the means and technology such that they can provide accurate, real-time evaluation of inspector resources.

Recommendation 6:

The Subcommittee recommends that the government undertake a comprehensive review of the resources, including training, that Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) needs to properly implement, execute and enforce all food inspection activities; and that the government make that review public.

Recommendation 7:

The Subcommittee recommends that the government implement a system to recognize the equivalency of existing provincial inspection systems in comparison to the federal inspection system.

Recommendation 8:

The Subcommittee recommends that the government provide funding for food safety initiatives at the different levels of the food supply chain, including the implementation of policy changes that support the development of novel approaches to foodborne pathogens.

Recommendation 9

The Subcommittee recommends that the federal government develop initiatives designed to work towards the removal of E. coli from the Canadian food chain.

Recommendation 10:

The Subcommittee recommends that the government restore and publish the Establishment Inspection Reports and Establishment Ratings.

Recommendation 11:

The Subcommittee recommends that the government enhance the national foodborne illnesses surveillance system by developing programs to gather epidemiological data on foodborne illnesses in Canada and that it initiate discussions with the provinces to add relevant foodborne illnesses to the list of nationally notifiable diseases.

Recommendation 12:

The Subcommittee recommends that the government review with the provinces the inter-agency protocols in place during an outbreak, including the public communication and information sharing components, and conduct real-scale simulation to validate these protocols.

Recommendation 13:

The Subcommittee recommends that the government review the legislative basis for the Public Health Agency of Canada and the Chief Public Health Officer with a view to ensuring independence from government departments and ministerial influence, so as to protect and restore faith and confidence in Canada’s public health system.

Recommendation 14:

The Subcommittee recommends that the government encourage the development of industry-led traceability systems for all commodities and products.