New administrative monetary penalties for enforcement of federal food safety rules

The Government of Canada announced that Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs) of up to $15,000 can now be issued for violations by food businesses that threaten food safety and market access for Canadian goods.

Amendments to the Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalties Regulations were published today in Canada Gazette Part II and are now in force. These apply to both businesses and individuals.

Until now, in the food sector, AMPs could only be used for certain commodities, leaving a gap in the enforcement tools available to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). By expanding the use of AMPs across the entire food sector, CFIA will have access to a consistent and comprehensive set of tools to enforce requirements for all food available to Canadians.

Link: Administrative Monetary Penalties: Fact Sheet