au courant
A regular update on issues, events and activities.
Volume 11, No.5, May 2007
Top Stories
- Elaine Smith Retires from FCPC
- Lesley McKeever Joins FCPC as Vice President Industry Affairs & Membership
- New Director for CFIA
- Importers to certify proteins and glutens as melamine free
- Industry continues work toward a safer supply chain
- Industry and Health Canada to work together on labelling and advertising using Canada's new food guide.
- 2007 FCPC Management Compensation Survey
Elaine Smith Retires from FCPC
Eight years after joining FCPC to head-up the association's Industry Affairs, Elaine Smith will be retiring at the end of June. FCPC member companies, together with representatives from across industry, recently marked her tremendous contribution to Canada's food, beverage and consumer goods industry at the National Grocery Conference, May 28-30th, as well as at an FCPC reception and an Industry Affairs Council event. We wish Elaine well.
Lesley McKeever Joins FCPC as Senior Vice President, Industry Affairs & Membership
Lesley McKeever will be joining FCPC as our Senior Vice President, Industry Affairs & Membership. Lesley brings to this role excellent experience and insight of the industry from a member company vantage point. Lesley is currently an FCPC member through her position at Kimberly-Clark. As the most senior person running Kimberly-Clark in Canada, she sits on the FCPC Board of Governors as well as the Industry Affairs Policy Committee of the Board. Lesley comes to FCPC after a long career at Kimberly-Clark that has spanned both the country and the company. Lesley will join FCPC on July 9th.
New Director for the CFIA
Effective June 4th, current Senior Associate Deputy Minister of Industry Carole Swan replaces François Guimont as President of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA). Swan has held numerous senior governmental positions, including Associate Deputy Minister of Industry, Associate Secretary of the Treasury Board and Senior Director, Economic Sector, Treasury Board Secretariat. Mr. Guimont leaves the post to become Deputy Minister of Public Works and Government Services. He was with CFIA from September 2005.
Importers to certify proteins and glutens as melamine free
In response to the melamine issue, food and consumer products companies will participate in a new certification system announced by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) for various imported gluten and protein concentrates, including those from China. From June, where possible, importers of vegetable proteins destined for food or feed will provide certificates of analysis from reputable laboratories, certifying their products free from melamine and cyanuric acid. Updates are available on the CFIA's website.
Industry continues work toward a safer supply chain
The ongoing work of the food and consumer product industry to ensure safe products continues this month with participation in the federal government's Chemical Management Plan. Under the plan, companies will continue work with Environment Canada and Health Canada, voluntarily submitting information around a second batch of substances identified for review by the government. Submissions on the first batch of substances concluded this week. More information on product ingredients and what industry is doing to make products safe can be found by visiting the industry's website www.ingredientawareness.ca.
Industry and Health Canada to work together on labelling and advertising using Canada's new food guide
Health Canada has developed a set of general principles to guide food manufacturers in developing their food product labelling and advertising materials using content from Eating Well with Canada's Food Guide. The principles are posted here on Health Canada's website. Food manufacturers will work directly with Health Canada, as well as customers and health professionals, to ensure the content is used effectively. The announcement follows the industry's April launch of the Integrated Children's Food and Beverage Advertising Initiative, in which leading companies committed to a healthier focus for children's advertising, among other key initiatives.
2007 FCPC Management Compensation Survey – July Deadline for Submissions
Companies wishing to participate in the expanded 2007 FCPC Management Compensation Survey are reminded of the July 6 deadline for submissions. This year, the survey is expanded to include more than 80 role descriptions across the food, beverage and consumer products industries, including foodservice. For the first time, participation is open to non-members, at an increased rate. More information on costs, requirements and timelines is available here on the web, or call Heather Spencer, (416) 510-8024 x 2237.
Upcoming Events
FCPC CEOs' 2007 Conference September 27-28th, 2007, Queens Landing, Niagara-on-the-Lake
Mark your diary. The FCPC CEOs' Conference brings together industry leaders in an intimate by-invitation-only event to hear from experts on topics significant to the growth and success of business in the food and consumer products industry. Sponsorship packages are now available to qualified organizations. To find out more, contact Andrea Holmes, (416) 510-8024 x 2236.
Upcoming Industry Events
Dietitians of Canada (DC) Annual Conference – Scanning the Horizon June 6-9th, 2007 – Hyatt Regency Hotel, Vancouver, British Columbia
This three day event features education, networking and celebrations of the best in dietetics. For more information and to register.
Canada's Industry-led Food Safety Programs - The Road Ahead
June 26th at the Lord Elgin Hotel, Ottawa.
Organized by Canadian On-Farm Food Safety (COFFS) Working Group and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), this one-day conference will provide a look at current achievements in the development of industry-led, HACCP-based food safety programs by national producer organizations; other industry groups along the supply chain; and governments. It will also take a look ahead at the opportunities and challenges involved in implementing and sustaining these programs as a key part of the new Canadian approach to food safety. Space is limited to 100. Contact jgalloway@cfafca.ca for details.
Welcome to FCPC
FCPC is pleased to welcome Elopak Canada Inc. as an associate member
Based in Norway, and wholly owned by the Ferd Group (one of Norway's largest privately owned industrial groups) Elopak is continually modifying its packaging expertise to match changing world demands for packaged food. Elopak's business is to break new ground at every level of packaging; processing standards, food science, logistics analysis, packaging concepts, all alongside a total systems approach which uniquely characterizes Elopak's contribution to the world of packaging. Half a century of continuous development sees a truly global corporation operating on every continent. With in-depth penetration through a network of market units and associates in more than 40 countries and customers in over 100, the Elopak Group seeks to bring its international expertise and product technology to new markets. At the centre of Elopak's well established range of packaging solutions is the Pure-Pak carton, the world's first paperboard carton. www.elopak.com
Central Graphics & Container Group Ltd. www.centralgraphics.ca
Services: Manufacturer of Point of Purchase packaging and displays
Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP www.osler.com
Services: Legal
To find out more about FCPC membership in FCPC, contact Heather Spencer at heather.spencer@fcpc.ca or (416) 510-8024 x 2237.
FCPC in the News
FCPC comments on Sodium content
Industry and regulators have worked closely on a measured Canadian approach to managing sodium content in foods. Media interest in sodium as a food ingredient peaked ahead of World Hypertension Day, May 17th, 2007. On Tuesday, May 8th, Global News interviewed with Phyllis Tanaka from FCPC, who highlighted industry's proactive ongoing efforts at product reformulation.
FCPC asked to comment on Mandatory Nutrition Labelling
Industry has invested significantly into Canada's world-leading mandatory nutritional labelling system. FCPC was asked to comment on research into product labelling. Read Phyllis Tanaka's interviews with CBC here and here.
Member News
New Leader for Smucker in Canada
FCPC welcomes Dave Lemmon as the new Managing Director of Smucker foods of Canada. Mark Smucker is relocating to the Company's Orrville, Ohio headquarters to take on the role of Corporate Vice-President International. Dave has been with Smucker in various roles for thirteen years.
McCain joins US effort to improve childhood nutrition
P&G announces realignment of business units