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Feed Regulatory Renewal Consolidated Modernized Framework Proposal – November 2015
User Fees Modernization

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When the CFIA was created in 1997, the intent of Parliament was that services would be provided on a cost recovery basis. Upon creation, the CFIA retained the cost recovery approaches of its parent organizations, including user fees for the feed program. These fees have not been updated since the Agency was created due to a moratorium on new and increased fees, that was in place until 2009. The moratorium has impeded the CFIA's ability to align fees with escalating program delivery costs, shifts in demand, changes in technology, new programming and evolving government policies relating to user fees and service standards. Since the moratorium was lifted in 2009, the CFIA has been reviewing its service standards and user fees to better align fees with the cost to deliver services where private benefits are derived.

Concurrently with the Agency's feed regulatory modernization initiative, the CFIA is reviewing its services, user fees and service standards for the feed program, in order to bring them into line with the new design and regulations. This puts the focus of cost recovery on services that the CFIA is delivering and the resources it is expending, rather than the the products that are involved or the size of the operation of the service recipient. The CFIA's intent is to move towards a fee structure that is reflective of the cost to provide its services and allows for service recipients to be charged appropriately for the services they use. The fee setting process encompasses four main steps:

  1. costing;
  2. assessment of public and private benefits;
  3. calculating the upper limit of the fee level (fee ceiling); and
  4. consideration of other relevant factors, including international benchmarking of relevant jurisdictions that provide comparable services to the CFIA.

The service standards for individual services will be based on current service delivery targets, and where relevant, to service standards Canada is committed to under international agreements. Information on user fees and service standards, once finalized, will be reported annually in the Agency's Departmental Performance Report.

Separate consultations on the proposed user fees for these services will occur once the review is completed. Stakeholders will have the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed user fees and service standards at that time.

Inspector Training

The need for a comprehensive training system to support Agency transformation and modernization of the CFIA was the focus of many stakeholder comments during the preliminary consultations.

The CFIA is building a Learning and Training Architecture Forward Plan 2013-2019 (Plan) to support a modernized Agency. Currently, CFIA training reflects a commodity-specific inspection approach, and paper-based record keeping and interactions with stakeholders. The proposed Plan moves the CFIA to a single inspection approach consistent across commodities, supported by standardized training, technology information solutions, enhanced proactive science capacity and improved services to stakeholders.

To support this initiative, CFIA will undertake three key activities in responding to Agency Transformation, including:

CFIA has also been looking at training best practices around the world – one that stands out is the International Food Protection Training Institute (IFPTI) based in Battle Creek, Michigan. The IFPTI is the training initiative of the Global Food Protection Institute (GFPI). GFPI is a model for private-public partnerships that addresses issues related to food protection. The IFPTI collaborates with industry, academia, federal and state government, and other national and state organizations to develop effective and relevant materials that advance food protection.

The IFPTI has produced a National Curriculum of evidence-based, career-spanning training for food protection officials. This National Curriculum supports a fully integrated national food safety system as outlined in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's Food Safety Modernization Act. Under the new private-public partnership, Safe Food Canada – The Learning Partnership, the CFIA is collaborating with key stakeholders from industry, academia and provincial/territorial governments to coordinate a Canadian effort to explore the potential of creating a model system similar to IFPTI in Canada to operationalize national training and certification in support of a professional and competent workforce. In following the IFPTI model, the development of a consistent curriculum framework for regulatory compliance and enforcement has the potential to standardize the professional development of federal, provincial and local feed regulators in Canada and all employees working in the feed industry.

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