News Feature | November 5, 2013

Food Manufacturers Face A Barrage Of New Policies In 2014

Source: Food Online
Sam Lewis

By Sam Lewis

Many new regulations will focus on the safety and quality of imported food

For many, the New Year brings the chance at renewal; an opportunity to shed last year’s bad behaviors and receive a fresh start. This also holds true for food manufacturers, but this year food makers will be bombarded with an extraordinary number of new regulations. Focusing on imported food quality and safety, companies found not in compliance will face stiff fines and penalties at, or after, crossing domestic borders.

The new policies will affect each company that imports to and exports from Canada and the U.S. Many of the new guidelines will require new certifications, while others will require manufacturers to update traceability software. Some of the most significant of these upcoming rules are:

  • Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA) — This new U.S. legislation will mandate companies adjust registration processes in domestic and foreign food facilities. Importers of food will deal with additional food safety certifications due to more strict requirements in identifying foreign food providers.
     
  • Single-Window Initiative — This initiative will affect the U.S., Canada, and Mexico. It will require shippers of food products entering or leaving the U.S. to interact with nearly 40 partnering government agencies through a single web-based interface. The regulation will require food makers to cross over from paper-based process to a digital approach to increase visibility, traceability, and real-time tracking of shipments. Once this implementation is completed, shippers will know all the data accrued by the partnered government agencies on the manufacturers’ food. This initiative will also decrease wait times and costs associated with examining food.
  • E-Manifest — This regulation is specific to Canada only. All shipments into Canada must be electronically announced before their arrival. New upgrades in software and IT will be required to make sure the new implemented systems are compatible. Companies not complying will risk additional fees when arriving at the border.
  • Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Inspection Modernization Program — The CFIA is creating a more complete approach to the inspection of all domestic and imported food products. All food makers will be required to receive an Imported Food Sector License. The CFIA will also be performing more inspections with greater enforcements to noncompliance issues. The types of goods that will be regulated are also expanding. Currently, importers of meat, fish, dairy, and eggs are affected by the regulations. In 2014, the policy will expand to include coffee, baked goods, spices, baby formula, snacks, and meal replacements among others.

These updates will make the process of clearing customs easier and improve the quality and safety of products entering their destination. However, there have never been this many major trade regulations being imposed at once. Food manufacturers have been urged to take early action to easily manage the level of upcoming change. Overseeing trade and complying with new regulations is both a time and money-eating investment, but taking action now will reduce the risk of not only lengthy audits and pricey fines.