Canadian Food Businesses Will Have to Meet New Regulations in 2019
On January 15, 2019 the most recent set of Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) will come into full effect. These new rules are seen as the most important updates to food safety regulations in more than two decades, but what do they mean for your small business?
If you own a small business in Canada that deals with food, you’ll need to learn how to remain compliant. Your business might need a new license, for example (more on that in a moment).
While the information in this article can’t replace the advice of a licensed legal professional, it will help you prepare your business for 2019 and beyond.
The SFCR will replace and/or consolidate 14 existing food regulations. The goal is to improve consistency across various food types and business types, which will hopefully reduce administrative burdens, among other benefits.
As a small business owner in the food space, these are the three main provisions you need to know about:
The Canada Food Inspection agency maintains a comprehensive website with information about licensing requirements, guidance on food-specific requirements, rules for importers, and more. You’ll find virtually anything you need on the website, but these resources will be particularly helpful:
If you have a food business, don’t wait until mid-January to become compliant with the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations. Proactive preparedness will save you time, money, and headache as we enter 2019, and you can use those extra resources to continue growing your food business.
To save yourself even more time, check out the virtual space and service solutions we have here at Intelligent Office. Whether you need a quiet office to work from, extra administrative support, an address, or something else, we have a solution that suits your business.