The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) plans to create 16 Centres of Expertise across Canada to provide industry and CFIA inspectors with better, more consistent access to information and advice.
This initiative was announced by Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz.
Gerry Ritz said the centres will combine expertise and make it available through a single window, making the CFIA more efficient and giving industry, CFIA inspectors and Canadians better, more consistent service.
"In addition, locations will be near both academic and provincial experts in a particular field to leverage expertise and collaboration among organizations," Ritz added.
The sixteen Centres, expected to be implemented over the next few years, will be dedicated for the following areas of expertise- forestry; finfish; red meat slaughter; foreign animal disease and emergency management; agri-foods and non-federally registered products; import/export of animals; and horticulture.
Other areas of expertise include grains & oilseeds, seed, plants with novel traits, fertilizer; labelling and claims; animal feed, poultry slaughter, processed meat and poultry, domestic animal disease and animal welfare, shellfish, aquatic animal health, and potatoes and soil.
