No one minding the food import store

OTTAWA, Sept. 23 /CNW/ - Canadians worried about the safety of imported food will take no comfort from an internal audit of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's imported food safety program which condemns the Agency's lack of a strategy, management and accountability for ensuring the foods imported into Canada are safe.

According to the audit, "CFIA Management of Imported Food Safety has deficiencies that represent multiple areas of risk exposure requiring significant improvement related to the governance, control and risk management processes."

"This is a sweeping condemnation which essentially found that little is being done to control the safety of imported foods.  We believe this is another symptom of a critically under resourced food safety system," said Bob Kingston, President of the Agriculture Union - PSAC which represents federal food inspectors.

For further information:

or to arrange a comment from Mr. Kingston contact:

Jim Thompson

613-447-9592

[email protected]