Stephen Harper Announcer More Stringent Food And Product Safety Legislation, Canada

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Main Category: Regulatory Affairs / Drug Approvals
Also Included In: Nutrition / Diet;  Public Health
Article Date: 09 Apr 2008 - 14:00 PDT

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Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, said that the federal government will enhance protection for the Canadian consumer with a "tough and comprehensive overhaul of food and product safety laws". In the House of Commons legislation was tabled aimed at improving the safety of food, consumer and health products across Canada.

Harper said "Today's action on consumer safety is good news for Canada. It will improve our safety and our health, make Canadian brands more competitive among global consumers, and boost confidence at home as a country whose product safety standards are second to none."

The proposal is for amendments to the Food and Drugs Act, as well as a new Consumer Product Safety Act. These include stiffer penalties for negligent manufacturers, importers and retailers who endanger their customers knowingly. There would be significant improvement to public access to information related to product safety.

The legislation also includes -

-- prohibiting the manufacture, importation, advertising or sale of consumer products that are a danger to human health/safety

-- a mandatory requirement that suppliers of serious product-related incidents report events in detail - these include near misses and defects

-- stiffer fines for violations

-- wider authority for the federal government to order recalls of unsafe consumer products

Harper said this legislation would be "Good for consumers. Good for the economy. This announcement is a double win for all Canadians."

The Food and Consumer Safety Action Plan

Written by - Christian Nordqvist
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