New Year, New Requirements: Safe Food for Canadians Regulations - 2021 Update

For businesses subject to the Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA) and Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR), keeping track of SFCR implementation deadlines can be challenging. 2021 ushers in new SFCR deadlines that food companies must meet in order to ensure compliance with Canada’s food laws. These deadlines include:

  • January 15, 2021: Businesses in the fresh fruit and vegetable sector will have until January 15, 2021 to use up existing packaging that does not comply with the lot code labelling requirements for consumer prepackaged fresh fruits or vegetables. Under these new requirements (which came into force on January 15, 2020), a lot code must be applied or attached to or accompany the consumer prepackaged fresh fruits or vegetables.

  • July 16, 2021: 2021 will be a year of significant regulatory transition for businesses subject to the SFCR that engage with manufactured food or unprocessed food used as grain, oil, pulse, sugar or beverage. The SFCR require most companies in these sectors with gross annual food sales of greater than $100,000 and four employees or less to comply with the rules relating to Preventive Control Plans (PCP) by July 16, 2021. In addition, most companies in these sectors with gross annual food sales of $100,000 or less or with 4 employees or less must meet the preventive control requirements by this date.

For more information about implementation deadlines for SFCR requirements and to whom these deadlines apply, please refer to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s website.

This article does not constitute legal advice. If your business requires tailored legal advice on this matter, please contact info@gsjameson.com.

India Annamanthadoo