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DRAFT - CODE OF PRACTICE FOR THE FOOD IMPORTING INDUSTRY IN CANADA
October 18, 2004
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/labeti/inform/d-impprace.shtml
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has produced a draft Code of Practice for the importing industry, entitled Good Importing Practices for Food (GIP). This is a revised and updated version of a document that is currently in use and available on the CFIA’s web site. Once the draft revision is finalized it will replace the current GIP, and will be used as an Assessment Standard by the
CFIA.
Good Importing Practices for Food is intended to provide a firm foundation for good importing and hygienic practices for the food importing industry in Canada. The GIP includes the key controls necessary for importers to control safety, suitability, labelling and fraud in imported foods sold in Canada. The application of the GIP allows the importer to operate within environmental conditions favourable to the importation and sale of safe, compliant food.
While the revised GIP will provide useful guidance to importers of all food commodities, it is directed particularly toward those companies which import products regulated primarily under the Food and Drugs Act and the Consumer Packaging and Labelling Act as well as those importing fresh and/or processed fruit and vegetable products regulated primarily under the Canada Agricultural Products Act. The revision is compatible with CFIA's overall import policy as well as with other specific CFIA import programs.
The GIP is based on the Recommended International Code of Practice - General Principles of Food Hygiene adopted by the Codex Alimentarius Commission. It is generic in nature and can be applied to all food importers, regardless of the type of food commodity imported or the volume or frequency of imported shipments.
The requirements of the GIP are considered to be the foundation for the development of a system based on HACCP (Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point) principles for ensuring food safety. All Canadian importers are expected to apply controls when importing foods, by providing and implementing a HACCP-based Quality Management System, which conforms to the CFIA Import Policy. The CFIA, in turn, will assess the importing practices and the imported food commodities based on the GIP and the applicable food Acts and Regulations. Where applicable and appropriate, the CFIA will take enforcement action.
The draft GIP includes sections dealing with:
- Control of Imported Product;
- Equipment;
- Premises;
- Sanitation and Pest Control;
- Personnel;
- Transportation and Storage;
- Records; and
- Complaint Handling and Recalls.
We are asking members of the importing industry in Canada to review the draft GIP and provide us with comments and suggestions. We are especially interested in your comments on the new parts that have been added to the document under "Control of Imported Product", entitled Nutritional Requirements, Label Accuracy, Net Quantity, Grading and Quality, and Other regulatory requirements.
To allow us to produce a Code of Practice that better addresses the needs of the importing industry in Canada, we would appreciate your comments and suggestions on the draft Good Importing Practice for Food (GIP) document.
The closing date for the receipt of comments and suggestions on the draft GIP is: December 31, 2004.
Please use our website feedback form to request that a copy of the Detailed GIP Comment Form be e-mailed or faxed to you. Your feedback will be forwarded directly for response to:
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