Though the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) “Safe Food for Canadians Regulations” came into effect in January 2019, they are only now starting to affect many craft producers in beverage alcohol, including craft beer and spirits. Under a phased-in approach, new traceability guidelines aim for greater transparency in both record-keeping and product labelling, to build consumer trust and create traceability in case of product recalls or hazards.
An interactive tool on the CFIA website allows producers to check requirements that apply to their businesses. Information that could be required include unique identifiers for each lot produced, locations of manufacturing and packaging, plus dates and customer names of both purchased ingredients and items sold.
Eventually, the CFIA will require two years of record-keeping, with just a 24-hour window for producers to supply records upon request.
Other craft industries are responding: the Canadian Craft Brewers Association, for instance, organized an October information session for its members, providing options and service providers to assist with implementation, and various consultants and suppliers are offering consulting services and support.
Some craft distillers may quality for National Research Council supported site visits and consulting from experts at the New Brunswick-based research centre CCNB-INNOV; for more information contact chemistry researcher Mike Doucette (Mike.Doucette AT ccnb.ca).