Mandate, Roles and Responsibilities

Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Mandate, Roles and Responsibilities

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA):

Created by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act (1997)

Regulatory body responsible for

Protection of its

plant resource base

Safety of

Canada's food

supply

Protection of

Canada's animal

health

Mandate, Roles and Responsibilities

Government of Canada

Responsible for CFIA activities

Minister of Health Minister of Agriculture

through a collaborative and joint approach

Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food

Responsible for promoting a competitive and sustainable Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector, and for non-food safety related activities

Minister of Health

Responsible for overall direction of the CFIA and all food safety related activities

Minister of Agriculture

and Agri-Food

Minister of Health

President of the CFIA

Executive Vice President

of the CFIA

• Exercises powers and performs functions assigned by the President

• Acts as the President in the President's absence

• Provides leadership and promotes collaboration across the CFIA and public service

• Supervises and directs CFIA's work and staff

• Supports the Minister of Health and Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food in fulfilling their responsibilities

• Assigns responsibilities to several Chief Officers

Mandate

The CFIA develops regulations and implements them to:

• Prevent and manage food safety risks

• Protect plant resources from pests, diseases and invasive species

• Prevent and manage animal diseases, and protect animal health

• Contribute to consumer protection

• Facilitate market access for Canada's food, plants and animals

President

Executive Vice

President

Vision

To excel as a science-based regulator, trusted and respected by Canadians and the international community.

Policy and Programs

• Provides advice and interpretation of policy and programs

• Provides certain regulatory permissions

• Sets direction for and to support integrated risk management across business lines

• Integrates horizontal business processes across the Agency

• Leads program performance measurement, planning and reporting on program results

• Leads stakeholder engagement related to legislation, regulatory and/or program development (or re-design)

Legal Services

• Provides legal advisory services on policies, programs and operations, and the development of statues and regulations

• Supports litigation counsel representing the CFIA in civil actions and judicial review applications

• Advises on processes, reports, Ministerial Reviews, and represents CFIA before the Canada Agricultural Review Tribunal

Operations

Policy and

Programs

• Sets operational policies and procedures

• Undertakes compliance verification and enforcement

• Provides guidance, oversight and validation of inspection programs and collects information on risks

• Provides regulatory permissions and other market services

• Leads Federal/Provincial/Territorial and stakeholder engagement on program delivery

Operations

Legal Services

Mission

Dedicated to safeguarding food, animal and plants, which enhances the health and well-being of Canada's people, environment and economy.

Information Management and

Information Technology

• Provides direction, advice, and services in information management and information technology (IMIT) and information security

• Supports implementation and operation of IMIT enabled business systems

Science

• Provides risk assessment and intelligence, foresight, and laboratory services

• Conducts regulatory research to inform risk management

• Conducts surveillance of known and emerging threats

• Provides oversight of Canadian laboratories for Biosafety, Biocontainment, Quality management and Accreditation

• Leads engagement with scientific experts through partnerships

Chief Officers

Information

Management and

Information Technology

Science

Chief Food Safety Officer

Chief Veterinary Officer

Chief Plant Health Officer

Chief Science Operating Officer

Chief Risk Executive

Chief Results and Delivery Officer

Chief Redress Officer

Senior Integrity Officer

Chief Privacy Officer

Chief Information Officer

Chief Financial Officer

Inspector General

Core

Functions

Core Functions

To fulfill the organizations mandate the CFIA carries out four core functions

Assess risks and develop programs to manage them

Promote compliance

Core Functions

Verify and enforce compliance

Provide services to mitigate risks and support market access

Branches

CFIA Branches

• Led by a Branch Head, who reports to the President

• Branches work together to fulfill the CFIA's mandate

• Help carry out CFIA's core functions under the three business lines: plant health, animal health, and food safety

• Provide advice, tools and services to support the design and delivery of programs and activities

Chief Officers

Communications and

Public Affairs

• Provides communications advice for employees

• Develops and delivers communication services

• Coordinates and directs CFIA's implementation of the Policy on Communications and Federal Identity

• Aligns communications initiatives with CFIA and Government of Canada priorities and policies

• Provides information on CFIA programs and services to the public, stakeholders, media, and internal employees

Audit and Evaluation

• Provides advice on governance, risk management, and the effectiveness of the management control framework

• Provides advice and information to enhance operational effectiveness, efficiency, and performance of programs and services

• Coordinates with the Office of the Auditor General and other external assurance providers on external audits and assessments

Communication and

Public Affairs

Audit and

Evaluation

Applicable

Legislation

and Regulations

Applicable Legislation and Regulations

CFIA is responsible for 14 federal statutes

38 sets of regulations

food

plant

animal

Corporate Management

Integrity and Redress Services

• Develops, manages and delivers a broad range of services such as finance, real property and procurement

• Liaises with Office of the Comptroller General of Canada and Treasury Board Secretariat on financial resource management matters

• Provides direction and services on complaints and appeals

• Responds to staffing complaints from CFIA employees

• Processes and sets policies for managing access to information and privacy files

Values, Integrity and Conflict Resolution Directorate

• Reports directly to the Vice President of Human Resources Branch

• Provides direction, guidance, and centralized services to CFIA employees on values and ethics, ethical descision making, internal disclosure and conflict management and conflict of interest

• Manages investigations into internal disclosures

• Reports findings and recommendations from investigations to the President of the CFIA

Human Resources

• Recruits, develops, and retains people and negotiates the terms and conditions of employment

• Applies official languages obligations for the CFIA

• Champions of workplace wellness, a respectful workplace, linguistic duality, diversity, mental health, and workplace safety

• Supports the CFIA's workforce/workplace management

• Manages CFIA’s compliance with human resources legislation, policies, guidelines, and processes

Corporate

Management

Integrity and

Redress Services

Secretariat

Human

Resources