David L.
Re: Small business tees off on food agency, by Laura Severs, Business Edge, Oct. 19, 2007.
As a marketing professional in the natural-health products sector, I have seen small and medium-sized enterprise (SMEs) kneecapped with stricter regulations. Some of them can no longer operate in the business environment and have closed.
Certainly agriculture has its own set of challenges, of which I know little. However, conventional business seems to afford the additional cost and appears to endure less scrutiny than natural-products manufacturers and distributors.
I can see that, with Health Canada regulations in place, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) being in the position of enforcer, that the CFIA is often the object of derision and scorn. I have found CFIA proactive for those who ask.
I have prepared labelling and packaging with several agents over the last six years and have found them helpful, diligent and timely. Not only that, their service was provided at no cost at all. Additionally, CFIA allows longer timelines for SMEs to comply with new regulations.
Regardless of the perceived performance of CFIA, consumer protection is in their hands: There is no other agency to do it. And regulation costs time and money, whether it be plant safety or organic certification. The real question is whether increased demands on consumer safety will demand heavier regulation. If only agri-business can survive in such an expensive environment, what will that do to small farms and producers?
- David L., Vancouver
