Newsletter – August 18 2025

Advocacy

BSE Surveillance Program: Early participation and next steps

It’s been four months since we updated the National Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy (BSE) Surveillance Program to align with new international standards. Early results are promising: we’ve already received 152 samples and have paid $102,000 to support clinical history recording and sampling – all from private veterinarians in Alberta.

To keep the momentum going, we’re encouraging participation from across the country.

Your participation matters: Market access depends on our ability to prove we’re actively looking for eligible cattle.

Visit the National BSE Surveillance Program webpage to learn more and get started.

Federal

Customs Notice 25-23: CARM Release Prior to Payment (RPP) contingency plan – Time sensitive/perishable goods and goods deemed necessary to support an individual’s continued health and well-being
Effective 11:59 pm August 9, 2025, the 30 day RPP contingency expansion from only time sensitive/perishable items to all goods in sufferance warehouse is expired.
The original RPP contingency is once again in effect; however, the criteria of goods eligible for the RPP contingency have been amended. Please refer to paragraph 8 to read more.

Animal Feed – Policy and Procedures Updates
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is consulting on the following single ingredient feed descriptions:

We are seeking comments on the proposed descriptions by September 12, 2025.

CBSA intercepts truck carrying 44 migrants in Quebec – Truck News
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) says it has arrested and charged three alleged smugglers after police in southern Quebec intercepted a truck carrying 44 foreign nationals in conditions an RCMP officer described as “horrific.”
The agency said RCMP and Quebec provincial police intercepted the vehicle with dozens of people aboard near Stanstead, Que., overnight between Aug. 2-3.

How and when to use Canadian claims on your products? – Food In CanadaFood In Canada
With Canadian consumers increasingly choosing local products, more food and beverage companies are adopting labels like ‘Made in Canada,’ ‘Product of Canada,’ or even ‘Roasted in Canada’ to appeal to the rising national sentiment. These claims are legally regulated, and there can be severe consequences for non-compliance.

Minister Dabrusin – Statement on the conclusion of the resumed Fifth Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Plastic Pollution (INC-5.2) – Canada.ca
The plastic pollution crisis affects our environment, economy, and communities. Addressing this issue is complex and requires a comprehensive, system-wide approach to drive the lasting change necessary to end plastic pollution and create a cleaner, healthier future for generations to come.

PMRA Recent postings of consultations and decisions
The Health Canada Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) is responsible for pesticide regulation in Canada. The public registry is where you can learn more about all pest control products registered for use in Canada.

• Metamitron, Brevis 150 SC, and Brevis 15 SG (PRD2025-05)  Open Consultation Posted: August 8, 2025

Provincial

BC Gov News
Approximately 75 poultry farms in the Fraser Valley will be upgrading their barns to reduce the risk of avian influenza and to support the supply of B.C. eggs and chicken that families throughout the province depend on as a trusted source of protein.

Growing and diversifying ag research | alberta.ca
Alberta’s agriculture sector has a well-earned reputation for making the world’s best agri-food products, from high-quality honey to top-shelf triticale. That reputation is owed in part to innovative research the province’s two crop diversification centres (CDC) have been conducting for decades, that directly benefits farmers.

Ontario Protecting Workers in Critical Sectors in Northumberland and Peterborough | Ontario Newsroom
The Ontario government is investing over $5 million through the Skills Development Fund (SDF) Training Stream to help more than 2,900 people across Eastern Ontario access free, hands-on training for in-demand jobs in the skilled trades, manufacturing, construction and aviation sectors.

USA

FDA Issues Warning About Imported Cookware That May Leach Lead: August 2025 | FDA
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning retailers and consumers not to sell or use certain imported cookware that may leach significant levels of lead (Pb) into food. Some types of imported cookware products made from aluminum, brass, and aluminum alloys known as Hindalium/Hindolium or Indalium/Indolium have been tested by FDA and state partners, and found to leach lead into food when used for cooking, thereby making food unsafe. Young children, women of child-bearing age, and those who are breastfeeding may be at higher risk for potential adverse events after eating food cooked using these products.
 
Report on the Certification of Color Additives: 3rd Quarter, Fiscal Year 2025, April 1-June 30 | FDA
This is the latest update on color additives: Report on the Certification of Color Additives: 3rd Quarter, Fiscal Year 2025, April 1-June 30 | FDA
 
Boar’s Head plant linked to Listeria outbreak set to resume operations | Food Safety News
Officials with Boar’s Head say they will reopen their deli meat production plant that was linked to a deadly Listeria outbreak in 2024.
The plant in Jarrett, VA, was closed down after dozens of people contracted Listeria infections in the summer of 2024 from meat products produced there. Ten people died. The plant was shut down in September in response to the outbreak.
 
Wyoming County decides to go with a local expansion of Food Freedom, bypassing food safety provisions | Food Safety News
For Laramie County, which includes the Wyoming capital of Cheyenne, use-by right amounts to an expansion of the state’s 2015 Food Freedom Act, which exempts home based businesses from food safety permits and inspections. The Board’s announcement said it  took the “bold action to protect private property rights and support entrepreneurs” in “a move toward deregulation and small business empowerment.”
 
USDA-FSIS Publishes New Generic HACCP Model for RTE Fermented, Salt-Cured, Dried Products | Food Safety
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service (USDA-FSIS) has released a new, generic Hazards Analysis and Critical Control Points (HACCP) model for ready-to-eat (RTE) fermented, salt-cured, and dried products.
 
FSIS previously published the FSIS RTE Fermented, Salt-Cured, and Dried Products Guideline which provides information on FSIS regulatory requirements for the safe production of RTE shelf-stable, fermented, salt-cured, and dried products that rely on multi-hurdle approaches to achieve lethality and shelf-stability. The model illustrates the processing of a dried, fermented sausage in the HACCP processing category of “not heat treated—shelf stable.”

International

Food companies targeted in blackmail plot | Food Safety News
Police in Poland have arrested a man suspected of threatening to contaminate food unless he was paid a ransom in Bitcoin.
The Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime (CBZC) helped gather information about the messages, their source, and ultimately, their author.
 
NSF Launches Groundbreaking MOAH-Free Certification for Food… | NSF
NSF, an independent global services organization, today announced the launch of its MOAH-Free certification program for nonfood compounds and food equipment materials used throughout the food manufacturing industry. This new certification addresses growing concerns regarding Mineral Oil Aromatic Hydrocarbons (MOAH) contamination in food products and establishes a rigorous standard for materials used in food processing environments.
 
Nestlé under investigation over alleged mineral water fraud in France
Nestlé is under fire in France over claims it used banned filtration to hide contamination in its mineral water.

Safety Share

Extreme heat events: Health risks and who is at risk of extreme heat events – Canada.ca
Weather conditions play a big role in how your body regulates its temperature. For example, if it’s windy, sweat evaporates faster, which helps to cool you. But high humidity slows down this process, contributing to increased body temperature.
Heat illnesses can affect you quickly and can lead to long-term health problems and even death.

Events
 
Pollen Food allergy  Syndrome Webinar Registration  Free Webinar Food Allergy Canada  Wed, Aug 20, 2025  12:00 PM – 1:00 PM EDT
When nature cross-reacts: A closer look at pollen food allergy syndrome – diagnosis, management, and treatment.

Allergens in Retail: Are You Prepared?  August 12, 2:00 – 3:00 PM EST
In the competitive world of food retail, poor allergen management can put your customers’ health and your business’s reputation at risk.
Join this webinar where we will address key aspects to ensure safe, responsible, and compliant management.

CARM: Did you Know?  Release Prior to Payment (RPP) Program

This short-form information session provides an overview of delegation of authority in the CARM Client Portal and the Release Prior to Payment (RPP) Program.  We will go over how to delegate authority to employees and third-party service providers, as well as financial security requirements and how to enroll in RPP.

Registration is required for this webinar. If you would like to listen to a recording of this webinar, it can be found on the CARM Google Drive.


CARM: Did you Know?  Registering on the CARM Client Portal

This podcast-style webinar offers a step-by-step overview of the process for setting up individual and business accounts in the CARM Client Portal, along with valuable trouble shooting tips. For anyone having difficulty onboarding to the CARM portal, this webinar is for you.

Registration is required for this webinar. If you would like to listen to a recording of this webinar, it can be found on the CARM Google Drive.

Collaborating on Food Safety Culture  | FDA
We are excited to announce the much-anticipated return of the FDA and Alliance to Stop Foodborne Illness co-hosted Food Safety Culture Webinar Series.
We appreciate your patience during some scheduling changes and hope you will join us for the newly rescheduled events.
Webinar #1: How to Turn a Problem into an Opportunity
Wednesday, September 3, 12:00pm ET
Join us for seven interactive, hour-long webinars throughout the next year designed to deepen your knowledge and strengthen your commitment to food safety. Each session will feature industry experts who will share valuable insights, real-world tools and actionable strategies to enhance food safety culture across your organization.
Register to view the complete list of webinars and reserve your spot for the series.

Home | Mexico’s Food Retailers Landscape FREE Webinar September 23, 2025 11am EDT
Join the Government of Ontario for a free webinar to learn about the retail space in the Mexican market.  If you are interested in exploring new markets, this is an opportunity to learn about the Mexican market and the opportunities it offers to Ontario food and beverage manufacturers.