Canada has a sound and internationally respected food safety system. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)'s food recall process is one part of that system. At the federal level, Health Canada establishes policies and standards related to the safety and nutritional quality of food sold in Canada. The CFIA enforces those policies and standards. Food manufacturers use many controls to protect the safety of the products they produce. On occasion, for many different reasons, a product may be manufactured and sold which may pose a health risk. When an unsafe food product has left the control of the manufacturer or importer it must be removed from the market. This process of removing the product is called a "recall". The food industry carries out most recalls voluntarily. The recalling firm is responsible for the implementation of the recall and verification of its effectiveness. However, if a company is not available or willing to conduct the recall voluntarily the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food can, under the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Act, order a company to recall a product where the Minister believes that it poses a risk to public, animal or plant health.
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