I.E.Canada's 5th Annual Food Forum, Embracing Global Diversity: Business Opportunity and Global Compliance.

Food and health policy is becoming increasingly complex and urgent as global trade expands the opportunities for product sourcing and production. Varying standards and policies make it critical that food manufacturers, importers and exporters be aware of the regulations and requirements of different countries to ensure compliance both at home and abroad.

I.E.Canada’s Food Forum is always a highly anticipated event, bringing together industry experts, policy makers, and thought leaders to highlight the policy issues for the coming year. This year’s 5th Annual Food Forum, Embracing Global Diversity: Business Opportunity and Global Compliance, is no exception. I.E.Canada has assembled a group that represents the best and the brightest when it comes to food and health policy, practices and trade.

In 2010, the U.S. government will likely have a new food safety bill in place. This bill will have a tremendous impact on food and food products being imported into the U.S. Dr. David Acheson, Managing Director for Food and Import Safety, Leavitt Partners LLC and former Associate Commissioner for Foods and Chief Medical Officer at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition (CFSAN) will outline what the legislation means, the timing and process for passing the new bill, and how the new legislation will impact the movement of goods from Canada into the U.S.

The Canadian government is committed to ensuring the safety of Canada’s food supply, with new compliance requirements coming into play over the next three years. Jim Butcher, Executive Director, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Strategic Projects Directorate, will outline Canada’s Food Safety Program, and the regulatory and policy actions that will take place into 2013. He will outline the timeframe for implementation, and discuss the impacts legislative and policy changes will have on Canada’s food industry. Mr. Butcher will also tell businesses how they can provide input to the implementation process.

The Food Safety Action Plan will include new import requirements. In March 2010, some food importers will be required to report new information electronically. CFIA’s new policy places responsibility for accuracy and compatibility issues firmly with the importer. Michel LaBrosse, Director, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Import Control, will outline the requirements and responsibilities for which importers must be prepared.

Food safety and consumer health has become a massive issue globally, with countries around the world putting new regulations and policies in place. With trade among nations becoming increasingly integrated and extensive, these issues need to be discussed at a global level, rather than regional, if the needs of safety are to be balanced against the needs of trade. Janet Beauvais, Professor of Practice, McGill World Platform of Health and Economic Convergence, McGill University and former Director General of Health Canada, will discuss the convergence of human health, food safety and nutritional policy on a global scale to bring unity to policy.

Health Canada is launching new initiatives on food allergen labelling, food contaminants such as ochratoxin and fortification that will introduce new compliance requirements.  In some instances standards will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, leaving industry with no consistency and little predicatability in the process. Dr. Samuel Godefroy, Director General, Health Canada – Food Directorate, will discuss Health Canada’s approach

Canada is a world industry leader when it comes to food products and processing. Joanne Allen, Corporate Quality Manager, Kraft Foods; Paula Klassen, Director of Quality Assurance, Bay Valley Foods; Dan Mattimoe, Sr. Program Manager - Quality & Regulatory Affairs, Campbell Company of Canada; and Muhammad Haroon, Manager, ISNA Halal Certification Agency, will address the work their companies are doing and will discuss best practices in the food industry.

Canada’s Chemical Management Plan is a complex, detailed program that will have far reaching compliance reporting implications for food, manufacturers and importers. Robert Cash, Manager, Environmental /Canada, Office of Compliance & Ethics, Archer Daniels Midland Company, will simplify the CMP and outline its effects on the food industry.

To have access to this outstanding roster of speakers, be sure to attend the Food Forum. To register, contact jesse@iecanada.com.

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• Upcoming Committe Meetings & Events
• Ensuring Compliance- Highway eManifest & Customs Changes in 2010
• 5th Annual Food Forum
• 7th Annaul Western Canada Conference
• The Customs Duty and International Trade Course
• Importing Into Canada

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Disclaimer - I.E.Now is designed to provide members with the most up-to-date trade information from a variety of sources. The information we feature does not necessarily reflect the association's opinion on a given international trade issue. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information notedin the daily e-mail, government policies are constantly evolving. The Canadian Association of Importers and Exporters Inc. cannot assume any responsibility for actions taken solely or principally on the basis of the information provided.