The Regulatory Environment for Food Processing in

Saskatchewan

Saskatchewan Food Summit

March, 2011

Chris Smith, Food Safety Specialist

History of Food Production Laws

• Egyptian scrolls - labeling

• Ancient Athens - beer and wines inspected

• Romans - control against fraud and bad produce

• Europe (Middle Ages) - quality and safety of eggs, sausages, cheese, beer, wine, and bread

• Chemist and doctors tried to alert public of adulteration

• Frederick C. Accum (1769 - 1838)

• Named names of adulterating merchants

• Food chemistry gains credibility and accuracy to test for “adulteration”

• First general food laws are adopted and enforced

Saskatchewan Acts and Regulations

• Main regulatory bodies for SK:– Saskatchewan Ministry of Health– Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture– Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority– Agriculture Agri-Food Canada (Canadian

Food Inspection Agency)– Health Canada

Fruit and Vegetables

• Farm gate

• Farmer’s Market

• Provincial regulations

• Federally regulations

Selling of Food – 4 (1)

• Subsection 4. (1) FDA states that:

"No person shall sell an article of food that:– has in or on it any poisonous or harmful substance; – is unfit for human consumption; – consists in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid,

disgusting, rotten, decomposed or diseased animal or vegetable substance;

– is adulterated; or – was manufactured, prepared, preserved, packaged or

stored under unsanitary conditions"

Selling of Food – 5 (1)

• Subsection 5.(1) of the FDA states that:

"No person shall label, package, treat, process, sell or advertise any food in a manner that is false, misleading or deceptive or is likely to create an erroneous impression regarding its character, value, quantity, composition, merit or safety.”

Dairy and Dairy Products

• Category II– Not exceed 25 litres/day cow milk– Not exceed 100 litres/day other milk

• Category I– Make all dairy products– Market within SK

• Federally registered– Make all dairy products– Export beyond SK

Wines

• Cottage winery– Up to 5,000 – 45,000 litres/yr

production

• Commercial winery– More than 45,000 litre/yr

production

Meat and Poultry• Farm gate sales

– Slaughters own animals– Sells fresh/frozen, ground meat from farm

(previous arrangement)

• SK Health licensed facilities– Slaughters own and others’ animals– Sells fresh/frozen, ground meat, fresh/frozen

sausage, hams, bacon, RTE (ready to eat) from business or other SK venues (except in Saskatoon)

• Provincial license (Domestic Meat Program)– Slaughters own and others’ animals– Sells fresh/frozen, ground meat, fresh/frozen sausage,

hams, bacon, RTE (ready to eat) from business or other SK venues that include in Saskatoon

• Federally registered– Slaughters own and others’ animals– Sells fresh/frozen, ground meat, fresh/frozen sausage,

hams, bacon, RTE (ready to eat) up to export market

Meat & poultry

Dairy and products

Shell eggs and egg productsMaple syrupHoney

Fruit & vegetablesProcessed fruits & vegetables

Fish & seafood

Federally registeredExport beyond SK

Bakery goodsGrain & products

Sport productsSpicesSnacksConfection & sugarEdible oilsAlcoholic & non-alcoholic

Cereals & products

Federally registered

Non-Federally registered

Export beyond SK

Meat & poultry

Dairy and products

Shell eggs and egg productsMaple syrupHoney

Fruit & vegetablesProcessed fruits & vegetables

Fish & seafood

Bakery goods

Meat & poultry

Dairy and products

Shell eggs and egg productsMaple syrupHoney

Fruit & vegetablesProcessed fruits & vegetables

Fish & seafood

Grain & products

Sport productsSpicesSnacksConfection & sugarEdible oilsAlcoholic & non-alcoholic

Cereals & products

Meat, poultry, fish & seafood, diary, f & v, processed f & v, eggs & products, maple syrup, honey

No export beyond SK

Federally registered

Non-Federally registered

Export beyond SK

Things to Consider

• Participate in associations/relevant committees– Government often works with these groups in

regulations development or consultation– Educate self and membership on requirements

• Don’t just tell gov’t what’s not working– Offer alternatives/solutions

• Recognize why regulations are developed– Protect public– Enable commerce

Chris SmithFood Safety Specialist, Livestock Branch

Saskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture

3085 Albert Street

Regina, SK; S4S 0B1

306-787-4692