Question Period Note: PROTECTING CANADIAN FOOD INSPECTION AGENCY INSPECTORS FROM COVID-19

• What is the Canadian Food Inspection Agency doing to protect inspectors in meat processing plants, as well as the Canadian food safety system?

• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is committed to protecting the health and safety of its employees while maintaining critical inspection services.

• Masks and face shields are made available to all Canadian Food Inspection Agency meat inspectors who cannot practice physical distancing.

• When cases of COVID-19 occur in a food processing or meat slaughter establishment, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) works with local public health to help determine the level of risk of exposure for CFIA employees, and their need for self-isolation and/or referral to health services for testing.

• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has been made aware of 38 CFIA employees having tested positive for COVID-19 between March 23 and May 21.

• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has taken a number of measures to protect the food supply without putting undue pressure on its existing workforce, which include bringing back former CFIA employees, leveraging provincial and territorial inspectors, as well as hiring new inspectors.

In any establishment where there is a COVID-positive case, Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) employees are asked to immediately 1) notify their manager, 2) prepare to leave the workplace, and 3) self-isolate and self-monitor for symptoms while they wait on the provincial/local public health authorities to assess the situation and provide additional instructions.

Only in cases where a CFIA employee’s risk of exposure is determined to have been low by provincial/local public health authorities (example: CFIA employees were not present in the part of the plant where the COVID-positive employees were working) will they be permitted to safely return to work at the establishment.

CFIA looks to provincial/local public health authorities to perform a contact investigation and provide a risk assessment of any employees that should move to (continue to) self-isolate.

CFIA has issued guidance and instructions to its employees relating to prevention and wellness. Employees have been instructed to self-assess their own condition on a daily basis before reporting to work and to be diligent in monitoring their own personal condition in order to minimize any risks to their health and that of others in the establishments they report to.

CFIA employees (including inspectors) who are exhibiting any signs or symptoms of illness have been advised to contact their managers and stay home.

To further protect the health and safety of its employees, CFIA has also provided specific written guidance and instructions (posted online) to meat slaughter and processing establishments across the country on prevention measures and response protocols when there are suspected and confirmed cases of the virus amongst plant employees.

CFIA has asked all establishments to be prepared to share their response plans in the case of confirmed or suspected positive cases of COVID-19 in an effort to trace back exposure risks and determine needed next steps.

CFIA expects that each third party establishment operator is complying with the advice and guidance provided by the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), as well as that from local public health authorities in addressing the COVID-19 outbreak.

The decision to suspend operations is the result of an establishment’s cooperation with directions or recommendations from local and provincial health authorities, and CFIA does not have jurisdiction in that area. This includes the assessment of mitigation and control measures the determination on workplace conditions (presenting a high risk for infection) or the assessment.

SYNOPSIS

• Concern has been raised over Canadian Food Inspection Agency inspectors becoming infected with COVID-19.
IF PRESSED…

• The Canadian food safety system is strong and the Government of Canada is working to ensure that Canadians have continued access to safe, high-quality foods.

• The Canadian Food Inspection Agency continues to maintain an appropriate number of inspectors in meat establishments.