Canada. Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Fish, Seafood and Production Program : Fish and seafood inspection was originally under the authority of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), but due to government restructuring, these functions were subsequently transferred in 1997 to the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
The Fish, Seafood and Production Program (FSPP) became part of the Fish, Seafood, and Production DIvision within the Animal Products Directorate of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in 1997. Its main function is to regulate domestically produced fish, though each province regulates fish processed and sold within its boundaries). The program enforces The Fish Inspection Act (R.S.C., 1985 c.f-12) and sets the policies and processing standards (including inspection requirements) for fish and seafood products. The Program inspects federally registered fish and seafood processing establishments; importers; vehicles used for transportation; fisher-packer facilities and cold storage. The FSPP maintains and enforces standards that regulate the harvesting, processing and storing of fish products. The Program promotes timely interventions at critical stages as well as verifying fish processing operations within regulatory requirements to ensure the safety of fish products and their appropriate labeling.
All federally registered fish processing establishments are controlled by the Fish, Seafood and Production Program, ensuring that they implement a Quality Management Program (QMP) verified internally by a "systems verification" and a "compliance verification". The FSPP issues certificates for the importing and exporting of fish products; it also ensures product testing (for contaminants, labeling, packaging, drug residues, food additives); enforces proper fisheries practices; makes education and awareness interventions to better inform the industry as well as taking care of incidents, recalls and complaints.