The Food Emergency Response System of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency

Emergency management: The Food Emergency Response Manual's guidance with respect to managing public announcements and monitoring the effectiveness of recalls could be improved. These improvements would contribute to assurance that the appropriate action is taken to fully protect the public in each food emergency situation. Improved documentation of the progress and subsequent termination of each food safety emergency may contribute to more effective management of these situations.

Performance of the Food Emergency Response System: The Agency has developed a performance measurement framework which includes the Food Emergency Response System. This is a very positive step. These general objectives and performance measures need to be made operational and should clarify what the Agency specifically expects to accomplish and how they are going to know that they have accomplished it.

62 We conclude that the Agency was, overall, effective in identifying situations in which recalls were necessary, that it assessed the situation and initiated a response in a timely manner, and that it implemented management actions which were, for the most, in accordance with the level of risk. The Agency's role in overseeing and monitoring industry's recall actions can be improved with enhanced guidance in the Food Emergency Response Manual and better documentation of the decisions and actions taken.

ABOUT THE ASSESSMENT

Objective

The objective of this assessment was to assess the effectiveness of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in responding to potential and actual food safety emergencies.

The criteria against which the Food Emergency Response System was assessed, are:

• The roles and responsibilities for implementation of the Food Emergency Response System should be clearly defined and understood.
• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency should identify potential emergencies with food safety impact in a timely manner.
• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency should have an established process for determining, in a timely manner, the level of food safety risk associated with potential emergencies.
• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency should manage food safety emergencies in a timely manner and in accordance with the level of risk.
• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency should monitor the effectiveness of emergency response activities and make improvements when required.

Scope and Approach

The scope of this assessment included food safety emergencies that occurred between September 1, 1996 and February 5, 1998. We examined in detail 49 recalls that occurred during this period. We also looked at an additional 12 incidents in which no recall was considered necessary. The recalls in our sample included Class I (emergencies) and Class II (potential emergencies) recalls, different types of hazards, and covered different regions. Some of the recalls included Health Hazard Evaluations by Health Canada while others did not. We also examined the Agency's response to the ice storm that took place in January 1998 with reference to the Food Emergency Response System.

The examination was conducted at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency's Headquarters and within four Regions: Pacific, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic. It included interviews with officials, file and document reviews, analysis of data gathered on the 49 recalls examined in details and review of the performance framework of the Agency as it relates to the Food Emergency Response System.

Assessment team :

Gilles Carreau (Lead Auditor), Michel Cloutier, Lucien Comeau, John Lytwyn, Chris Palmer, Brenda Redmond, Luciano Silicani, and Freddy Wu.