During the first few days of the new year, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has suspended the Safe Food for Canadians (SFC) licenses of three food companies, including a fish importer, multi-commodity processor, and a sausage producer. While the actions carried into 2020, all three licenses were revoked as of Dec. 31, 2019.
The first license was taken from #9PHXCKMN for MAS Distribution Inc., a fish importer located in Laval, Quebec. While the suspension is in effect, the licence holder may not conduct any activity for which SFC licence #9PHXCKMN was issued.
There is no food recall associated with this suspension.
The CFIA suspended the license because the license holder did not develop a compliant preventive control plan in accordance with the relevant provisions of Part 4 of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR).
License holders are responsible for ensuring they comply with Canada’s food laws. In a statement, the CFIA said it is committed to enforcing those laws.
Safe Food for Canadians licenses can be suspended:
- for failure to comply with the Safe Food for Canadians Act, the Food and Drugs Act and their related regulations
- for default of payment of any fee related to the license
- if the risk of injury to the public may result from continuing to conduct the licensed activity
The licence suspension will be lifted if the CFIA determines that corrective measures have been taken. If corrective action is not taken within 90 days after suspension, the CFIA may cancel the license. The CFIA may also cancel the license on other grounds set out in section 39 of the SFCR. Cancellation can occur after the license holder has been notified of the grounds for cancellation and provided with an opportunity to be heard.
The CFIA also suspended the Safe Food for Canadians license #9XD46PCB of Fine Choice Foods Ltd., a multi-commodity processing establishment located in Richmond, British Columbia.
While the suspension is in effect, the license holder may not conduct any activity for which SFC license #9XD46PCB was issued.
There is no food recall associated with this suspension.
The CFIA suspended the license because the operator did not implement a preventive control plan in accordance with the relevant provisions of Part 4 of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR).
License holders are responsible for ensuring that they comply with Canada’s food laws. The CFIA is committed to enforcing those laws.
This license suspension will also be lifted if the CFIA determines that corrective measures have been taken. If corrective action is not taken within 90 days after suspension, the CFIA may cancel the license. The CFIA may also cancel the license on other grounds set out in section 39 of the SFCR. Cancellation can occur after the license holder has been notified of the grounds for cancellation and provided with an opportunity to be heard.
The CFIA’s also canceled the Safe Food for Canadians license #9K9WDGDF of Usine Amsellem inc, a ready-to-eat meat products (dried sausages) producer located in Laval, Quebec.
The license was canceled in accordance with the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) because the license holder failed to comply with Section 15 of the Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA) relating to one test result for Salmonella bacteria in one of their products. Section 15 of the SFCA states that it is prohibited for any person to make a false or misleading statement or to provide false or misleading information to a person exercising duties under the Act in connection with any matter under any provision of the SFCA or the SFCR.
A recall of dry beef sausage produced by this license holder was published on December 4, 2019, due to possible Salmonella contamination. Although no cases of illness associated with the consumption of this product have been reported, the CFIA took the necessary measures to protect consumers as soon as it was determined that a product was potentially contaminated.
CFIA has now concluded the food safety investigation, and no additional recalls are expected with respect to this investigation.
The sausage producer . was notified on December 5, 2019, of the grounds being considered for license cancellation and provided an opportunity to be heard. After meeting with the license holder and based on a review of the facts and submissions made, CFIA determined that the license holder failed to comply with Section 15 of the SFCA and their license was canceled.
The CFIA publishes a list of suspensions and cancellations on its website.
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