CFIA creates team to monitor U.S. move ‘away from science-based decision making,’ documents show

Concerned about deep cutbacks at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and “a move away from science-based decision making,” the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has quietly struck a “US Risk Task Team” to monitor the impact of regulatory changes on food imports.

According to internal government documents, the federal agency is concerned that significant changes at the FDA, including staff cuts and lighter regulations, will heighten the risk associated with food and commodity imports from the United States, which would complicate cross-border trade and erode consumer trust if problems occur.

“Given the widespread changes that are expected to occur in the US due to significant reductions of regulations and the federal workforce, the risk profile of products coming from the US may change,” say the CFIA documents, which were released through access to information.