SCARBOROUGH, Ontario – Canada will spend C$30.7 million ($24.7 million) on a Food Safety Information Network (FSIN). The initiative will connect food safety laboratories and regulators across Canada and standardize food safety testing while leveraging existing laboratory capacity.

Benefits of the network include rapid mobilization and coordination of laboratory surge capacity and capabilities during a food safety incident or emergency; near real-time sharing and analysis of food safety information; stronger capabilities to anticipate, detect and respond to food safety risks. The FSIN will be implemented over five years.


“As we mark World Health Day, our government continues to invest and work collaboratively to strengthen food safety by sharing information and laboratory data,” said Lisa Raitt, Minister of Transport. “Today’s investments mean near real-time sharing of food safety information and laboratory data allowing the government to better manage emerging issues and respond to food safety incidents and emergencies.”

The FSIN is a collaborative initiative developed by provincial and federal stakeholders including the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC).