Food Safety is a shared responsibility and all levels of government - federal, provincial and municipal - have distinct and interconnecting roles in maintaining Ontario's food safety system
Federal - Health Canada establishes policies and standards governing the safety and nutritional quality of all food sold in Canada, and carries out foodborne disease surveillance for early detection and warning. Enhanced public health surveillance systems are in place at all times to provide immediate information on outbreaks of foodborne illnesses.
- The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) administers and enforces all federal legislation related to food inspection, agricultural inputs and animal and plant health.
Provincial - There are three provincial ministries who are primarily responsible for food safety:
- Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), as the lead ministry, is responsible for dairy and meat inspection programs, key components of the Ontario Food Safety System.
- Health and Long Term Care (MOHLTC) is responsible for the protection of public health and sets food safety standards and policies for food premises.
- Natural Resources (MNR) is responsible for food safety for fish and fish plant inspection for products harvested and offered for sale in Ontario.
Municipal - Health Canada establishes policies and standards governing the safety and nutritional quality of all food sold in Canada, and carries out foodborne disease surveillance for early detection and warning. Enhanced public health surveillance systems are in place at all times to provide immediate information on outbreaks of foodborne illnesses.
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) administers and enforces all federal legislation related to food inspection, agricultural inputs and animal and plant health. The CFIA performs this role on behalf of Health Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and Fishers and Oceans Canada. The CFIA is responsible for inspecting and regulating federally registered establishments, which are generally those that move products across provincial or national boundaries.