It wants to assist the sector's competitiveness.   Ottawa—The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is conducting an online consultation until March 19 seeking the views on how it can help the agrifood sector be more competitive. It has released a consultation document entitled Framing competitiveness and innovation to put context to the issues raised in its questionnaire. It wants feedback “on how to further strengthen its regulations, services and programs to help enable competitiveness and innovation in the agrifood sector.” It wants “small and medium-sized enterprises and businesses owned and operated by diverse population groups including but not limited to Indigenous peoples” to participate in the consultation. Changes could help the economic recovery and resiliency of the agrifood sector by spurring innovation, growth and competitiveness. CFIA said it's aiming “to excel as a science-based regulator, trusted and respected by Canadians and the international community. At the same, it is adjusting to the new normal operating environment for the sector. “There has never been a greater need for the CFIA to help support economic recovery in a post-pandemic world. We continue to be mindful of the suite of challenges and drivers for change that the sector faces.” There are opportunities “for enhanced partnership with industry and other non-government organizations to advance capabilities and knowledge in areas such as food safety assurance systems and food traceability. Emerging technologies also bring new opportunities for creating value-added and novel products such as those supported through Canada's Protein Industries Supercluster. Yet, efficient entry of these new/novel products into the marketplace remains challenged by the current regulatory framework.” CFIA is examining how best to leverage partnerships with stakeholders in obtaining data, research and knowledge, including traditional knowledge of Indigenous peoples, to better understand the regulatory burden on stakeholders.” The questionnaire includes the following questions: --Where do you see the greatest need for the CFIA to examine cumulative economic impact of incremental regulatory requirements on the agrifood sector? --Where do you see that the CFIA would best support the agrifood sector in gaining market access? --To what extent do you support prioritization of regulatory activities to facilitate market access of new/novel products given the CFIA mandate and the need to promote a level playing field for regulated parties? --How do you see the CFIA positioning itself to support small and medium-sized enterprises with agriculture operations? If you have any questions, send them to [email protected] Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.