Advocacy
Reminder: SFC licence conditions for romaine lettuce imported from the U.S.
From September 24 to December 17, 2026, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will be adding temporary conditions to Safe Food for Canadians licences for the importation of romaine lettuce from the United States, including salad mixes containing this lettuce. During this period, importers will be required to provide evidence their supplier participates in the Romaine Test & Learn program or negative E. coli O157 test results for each shipment of romaine lettuce grown in the Salinas Valley, California.
For more information, please visit Temporary import requirements for romaine lettuce from the United States.
Federal
Farm Credit Canada launches a 60-day expression of interest process for its new $1 billion Agri-food Project Finance initiative.
Feedback on U.S. pet food import requirements
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is proposing updates to the import requirements for commercial shipments of heat-treated pet food products from the United States. We are seeking feedback from industry and importers on these proposed changes.
Find out more by visiting the Notice to Industry on our website and provide your feedback by October 15, 2026.
Information gathering under the Chemicals Management Plan:
A compilation of the non-confidential information received for the S.71 CMP 2023 notice was published.
https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/chemical-substances/canada-approach-chemicals/information-gathering/initiatives.html
Government of Canada invests in safety on Canadian farms – Canada.ca
Creating safer working environments improves the well-being of farm families and workers, while building a stronger agriculture sector that Canadians can continue to rely on. The Government of Canada is committed to supporting initiatives that protect the health and safety of farmers and farming communities.
Health Canada (HC) has completed its review of the comments received during the consultation period regarding products containing button/coin batteries and the packaging of button/coin batteries. HC values and appreciates input from stakeholders. After considering these comments, HC has determined that products containing button/coin batteries and the packaging of button/coin batteries must meet key performance criteria outlined in the danger to human health or safety assessment in order to be manufactured, imported, advertised or sold in Canada. As a result, products containing button/coin batteries and the packaging of button/coin batteries have been added to Table 3 of the General Prohibitions process. This does not constitute a ban on these products. Only products that do not meet critical safety criteria would be considered to pose a danger, and cannot be manufactured, imported, advertised or sold in Canada. It is anticipated that most products currently available on the Canadian market meet these key safety criteria and will remain available.
While there is no legislated coming-into-force or transition period when a class of consumer products moves onto Table 3 (because paragraphs 7(a) and 8(a) of the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act (CCPSA) are already in force), the Department will prioritize compliance promotion following the Table 3 update. However, Health Canada may take immediate compliance and enforcement action at any time when there is a reason to believe that a consumer product poses a danger to human health or safety or is non-compliant with the CCPSA or its regulations.
Note – performance criteria that are equivalent in addressing the danger but are not listed on Table 3 may also be acceptable.
Provincial
Provincial funding will help prepare workers and businesses for new opportunities as Ontario undertakes one of the largest nuclear build-outs in North America
Businesses throughout British Columbia will be better able to manage costs as the Province pauses the planned expansion of the Provincial Sales Tax (PST) to professional services.
Nestle expands Toronto confectionery factory – Food In CanadaFood In Canada
Nestle completes expanding its historic confectionery factory in downtown Toronto, which is the company’s only certified peanut-free facility in North America.
The $50+ million investment has increased production space and added advanced manufacturing equipment, including a new, flexible moulding line in the factory.
Province of Manitoba | Manitoba’s Path to Net Zero
Manitoba’s Path to Net Zero is a bold strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, strengthen communities and build a resilient, low-carbon economy that benefits all Manitobans.
The plan sets out Manitoba’s path to net-zero emissions by 2050. It includes 10 strategic priorities and 42 key initiatives to guide collective action across government, communities, businesses and sectors.
USA
The FDA Releases 2026 Food Code | FDA
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued the 2026 edition of the FDA Food Code, which is a model of uniform provisions to assist local, state, tribal, and territorial regulators in safeguarding public health and ensuring food is unadulterated and honestly presented when offered to the consumer at retail and in food service. The Food Code is updated on a biennial cycle to reflect advances in food safety science, regulatory practice, and emerging industry trends.
FDA Releases Report on Food Safety Risk Factors in Retail Delis | FDA
This report summarizes the agency’s findings from the 2019-2022 data collection and is part of the FDA’s larger effort to study trends in the occurrence of foodborne illness risk factors, food safety behaviors, and practices in food service facilities. Risk factors are food preparation practices that can contribute to outbreaks of foodborne illness such as inadequate cooking, poor personal hygiene, or using food from unsafe sources.
FDA Issues Warning About Certain Products Containing Toxic Yellow Oleander | FDA
More Products Added to FDA Public Health Alert Due to Presence of Yellow Oleander
Consumers should avoid products in the safety alert because they have been tested and found to contain toxic yellow oleander and can cause neurologic, gastrointestinal, and cardiovascular adverse health effects that may be severe, or even fatal.
The U.S. Department of Justice announced a settlement with Abbott Laboratories related to its role in an outbreak of cronobacter infections from powdered infant formula in 2022. Two infants died as a result of the outbreak.
International
Survey on the impact of the EU hygiene requirements (for materials and products in contact with drinking water) on products on the market.
Food commodities threatened by El Niño
The weather event could be the largest since the 19th century
Reducing antimicrobial use in agriculture is essential to slow the emergence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR). But protecting consumers from antibiotic-resistant bacteria requires more than stewardship alone, according to a new review by authors from the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
Safety Share
CRE-MSD: New posters support MSD prevention in retail workplaces
Posters were developed to raise awareness of musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) hazards related to material handling in retail workplaces and promote safer work practices. Developed in collaboration with Workplace Safety & Prevention Services (WSPS), the posters support the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development’s ergonomics campaign on MSD prevention in the retail sector.
View and download the posters:
Events
Global Framework on Chemicals Information Session
September 24 2026, 11AM – 12PM ET.
Please join Health Canada virtually to learn more about the Global Framework on Chemicals (GFC), the upcoming First International Conference (IC1), and Canadian perspectives on the GFC’s objectives and targets from the recently conducted GFC Survey.
During this information session, we will invite you to share any updates or ongoing work you would like to highlight for other members. Health Canada will also share more information about IC1 and mechanisms to engage with other members and focal points.
Please register in advance for this event:
https://events.teams.microsoft.com/event/9ed64815-f0a4-422b-ba5d-c5400e4d1e28@42fd9015-de4d-4223-a368-baeacab48927?source=copyLinkLegacyShareLinkDialog
PPWR Regulations: What You Need to Know and How NSF Can Support Your Packaging Claims for EU Market Access FREE Webinar October 8, 10:00 AM — 11:00 AM EDT
The EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR) introduces new requirements that will impact food-contact packaging across the supply chain. With key provisions taking effect in August 2026, now is the time to understand what these changes mean for your organization.
Join NSF experts for a practical discussion on what you need to know today, what’s still evolving, and how to prepare for future compliance expectations.
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