Ontario government strengthening the food safety system

12/04/05 Canada, The McGuinty government is further ensuring the safety of food supply by giving Ontarians a single voice to advocate on behalf of animal health and food safety issues, Minister of Agriculture and Food Steve Peters has said.

The government is establishing an Office of the Chief Veterinarian of Ontario (CVO) and consolidating responsibility for food safety in Ontario into one division within the ministry.

"This announcement responds to a key recommendation in Justice Roland Haines' report on the province's meat regulation and inspection system,"

Minister of Agriculture and Food, Steve Peters said. "Our continuous work on improvements will make ours a truly world-class system that protects public health and encourages greater competitiveness in Ontario's agri-food sector."

The food safety division will bring together policy, program and operation areas of food safety that were formerly distributed throughout the Ministry.

"Food-borne illness is very costly and is a preventable public health problem," said Dr. Sheela Basrur, Ontario's Chief Medical Officer of Health. "The creation of a new food safety division within the Ministry of Agriculture and Food will help protect our food supply and reduce the risk of food borne illness."

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2005/11/c4275.html