Archived - Audit of Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs)

Audit

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) internal audit function provides the President, senior officials and agency managers with an independent capability to perform audits of the resources, systems, processes, structures and operational tasks of the CFIA. It helps the CFIA accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to assessing and improving the effectiveness of risk management, control and governance processes.

The internal audit function is accountable to the CFIA's Audit Committee, of which the President is a member. All internal audit findings and recommendations must be reported to the Audit Committee, and all audits must be carried out in accordance with federal policy and legislative requirements, including the 2012 Policy on Internal Audit and the 2006 Federal Accountability Act.

CFIA internal audit projects are selected based on highest significance during an annual agency planning process, which are then reflected in the Agency's Audit Plan for review by Audit Committee and approval of the President.

Overview

The Agriculture and Agri-Food Administrative Monetary Penalty Act (AAAMPA) was passed in 1995. The supporting regulations, which allow the Agency to use administrative monetary penalties (AMPs), came into force in May of 2000.

The objective of the audit was to assess the adequacy and efficiency of processes for Notices of Violation (NOVs), with or without penalty, levied in the Animal and Plant Business Lines in order to inform the future extension of the AMPS regime to provisions of the Safe Food for Canadians Act and Regulations.

Key Findings

The application of AMPs is generally consistent with the AAAMPA and its regulations, and with internal CFIA policies and procedures from a compliance perspective.

Nonetheless, the audit identified notable opportunities for efficiency improvements. The audit recommends the development of a more fulsome performance management system within the Agency's enforcement strategy to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of the AMPs regime and to ensure that graduated enforcement measures can be easily applied and demonstrated.

The Agency's management has accepted the conclusions of the audit and is taking action to address the recommendations.

Complete report

• Audit of Administrative Monetary Penalties (AMPs)
• Management response and action plan