CANADA: Food fines uncollected

29.sep.10
Postmedia News
Sarah Schmidt

The federal government routinely opts against slapping fines on companies that violate animal health rules during the transport of animals destined for slaughter -- and when penalties are issued, a quarter remain uncollected.
Between 2004-05 and 2009-10, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency issued 1,135 violations but only slapped a monetary penalty on 781 cases. After six years, one in four of these fines remain uncollected.
The others -- representing 31 per cent of cases -- were let off with a warning.
Many of these unpaid fines date back to 2004, the government admits in documentation introduced in the House of Commons in response to a question from Quebec Liberal MP Alexandra Mendes.
For example, of 189 financial penalties issued in 2004-05, 47 are still outstanding. Of 131 penalties issued the following year, 29 remain unpaid.
These penalties -- considered by CFIA a "flexible and cost-effective response to violations that do not warrant costly and lengthy court prosecution procedures but are serious enough to pose a risk to our country" -- usually range between $2,000 to $3,000, but can be as high as $6,000 per infraction.