Canada to Enforce Penalties and Fines for Food Safety Violations
This week, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) 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.
CFIA uses AMPs as a supplemental option to address violations under Canada’s federal food safety regulations. AMPs can range from a violation notice with no monetary penalty to a maximum amount of $15,000 for serious offenses or repeat violators. AMPs can also be issued to individuals and amounts can range from $500 to $1,300. AMPs have been used in the meat sector since 2015. By expanding the use of AMPs across all food sectors, the CFIA will now have a consistent and comprehensive set of tools to enforce compliance with the requirements for all food in Canada.