File photo of a provincial border marker in Lloydminster. (Michele Gervais/iStock/Getty Images)

Borderline city hosts interprovincial food trade pilot

Trade barrier on pause for two years for food businesses serving Lloydminster

The idea of loosening interprovincial trade in certain foods made by provincially-inspected processors will get a major test in one of Canada’s very few province-crossing municipalities. The Saskatchewan, Alberta and federal governments on Jan. 19 announced the start of a two-year pilot project within the limits of Lloydminster, a city of over 31,000 people straddling […] Read more

Siddika Mithani — shown here in an illustration from a series of “superhero trading cards” published in 2022 featuring CFIA researchers and staff — has retired from her post as CFIA president. (CFIA via Twitter)

CFIA president retires

NFU calls for next agency boss to prevent 'regulatory capture'

Canada’s federal regulator for the food and animal and plant health sectors is in the market for a new president following the incumbent’s retirement. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed its president, Dr. Siddika Mithani, has retired from the federal public service effective Jan. 20. Mithani has led CFIA since February 2019, having served […] Read more

The agriculture industry says it is important for the government to act quickly on gene editing because the rest of the world, other than the European Union, has adopted the practice. Clearly spelling out guidance will allow companies to invest in Canada.

Federal government’s plan to approve gene editing slows down

Hold-up appears to be how to satisfy organic sector, which opposes biotech tool because of impact on sensitive markets

Glacier FarmMedia – Guidance on how gene editing will be used in Canadian plant breeding is still not available and that doesn’t sit well with the Conservative opposition. “This is important and we need this done,” said agriculture critic John Barlow in an interview. He raised the concern during a standing agriculture committee meeting on […] Read more

(Dave Bedard photo)

CropLife not driving CFIA policy, agency says

NFU calls for CFIA head's ouster over 'indication of improper collaboration'

The National Farmers Union and a clutch of other organizations have asked Canada’s federal ag minister to replace the president of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, citing questions about the provenance of regulatory proposals on gene-edited seed. CFIA officials, however, reject the NFU’s allegation that the metadata attached to the proposal document in question may […] Read more

Climate change is changing the biology of wild birds and their migratory patterns, which means avian influenza is arriving sooner, as seen this spring in Ontario. Migratory birds are arriving in North America earlier, and staying longer. Some species including Canada geese have decreased their migration away from Ontario.

Lessons learned from the H5N1 outbreak

Changes to disease response must be considered as climate change means the virus will continue to be a threat

Canada’s poultry sector has seen relatively minor repercussions from an ongoing global outbreak of highly pathogenic Avian Influenza (AI) but panelists at the recent Health Day hosted by the Poultry Industry Council (PIC) agreed that changes to disease response must be considered if the industry wants to avoid future harm. That’s largely because this strain […] Read more


(Stephen Ausmus photo courtesy ARS/USDA)

Avian flu hits more Alberta, Ontario poultry flocks

Alberta cases spread north, east

Three additional poultry flocks in central Alberta and one in eastern Ontario were confirmed over the weekend to be infected with highly pathogenic avian influenza. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency said Monday it had confirmed high-path H5N1 avian flu on Friday in a commercial poultry flock in Kneehill County, between Calgary and Red Deer, and […] Read more

File photo of a Prince Edward Island potato field. (Onepony/iStock/Getty Images)

‘Expedited’ potato wart survey helps make case for P.E.I., CFIA says

National survey done 'ahead of schedule'

A national survey finding no potato wart in any “unregulated” Canadian fields should offer the reassurance on Prince Edward Island potatoes that trading partners such as the U.S. are now looking for, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency says. CFIA on Thursday reported it has completed this fall’s national survey for the soil-borne fungal potato disease […] Read more



Wild pigs could be an uncontrollable factor if ever infected with African swine fever.

Canada, U.S. agree on plan if African swine fever infects wild pigs

Zoning would keep other parts of the North American hog market functioning

Glacier FarmMedia – Wild pigs are a worry in Canada and the United States for reasons beyond the damage they do to farms, pasture land and ecosystems. They could be an uncontrollable factor if ever infected with African swine fever. Why it matters: African swine fever has devastating effects on swine herds, as shown in […] Read more

Food safety, surveillance focus of new CFIA funding

Food safety, surveillance focus of new CFIA funding

New trade agreements drive need to monitor imports, help with exports

Glacier FarmMedia – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency plans to spend $162.6 million over the next five years to improve services. Why it matters: CFIA plans to increase its surveillance and oversight programs so it can better respond when new food pathogens, invasive species or other diseases are identified. According to the federal government, the […] Read more