Overview of the Promise

During his campaign for prime minister, Mark Carney pledged to work with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) to ensure mutual recognition of food safety standards with reliable trading partners. The promise emphasized that this initiative would cut red tape to accelerate access to new technology approvals without compromising health and safety. This aimed to streamline regulatory processes, enhance market access for Canadian products, and support economic growth in the agriculture and agri-food sectors.

Actions Taken by the Carney Government

Since assuming office, Prime Minister Mark Carney's government has prioritized regulatory modernization through collaboration with the CFIA. The agency's 2025-2026 Departmental Plan outlines efforts to advance mutual recognition with trusted international partners, leveraging digital systems to streamline pre-market assessments and regulatory services. This includes demonstrating leadership in international standard-setting to ensure Canadian products meet global requirements, directly aligning with the promise's goal of reducing bureaucratic hurdles.

The government has supported the CFIA's role in enabling safe and predictable market access, contributing to economic growth and innovation. Initiatives under the Government of Canada's regulatory roadmaps for agri-food, aquaculture, digitalization, and international standards have been advanced, focusing on modernizing food, plant, and animal regulatory frameworks. These steps are intended to accelerate approvals for new technologies while maintaining high health and safety standards.

Legislation and Policy Developments

No new standalone legislation has been proposed or passed specifically targeting mutual recognition of food safety standards under the Carney administration as of August 28, 2025. However, the promise is being pursued through existing frameworks, including updates to the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations and the Food and Drugs Act. The CFIA's departmental plan references ongoing work on regulatory modernization, which builds on prior amendments to these regulations. For instance, targeted initiatives in 2025-2026 aim to foster a technology-neutral environment that supports innovation without new legislative changes, relying instead on administrative and policy adjustments.

The government has also invested in digital tools to enhance regulatory oversight, as noted in CFIA reports, which indirectly supports the promise by reducing red tape through efficient enforcement and industry compliance measures.

Progress on Key Outcomes

The promise includes cutting red tape to accelerate new technology approvals without compromising health and safety. Current efforts show progress in streamlining services and advancing mutual recognition, which could lead to faster approvals. For example, the CFIA is working on earning international recognition for Canada's regulatory system, potentially reducing duplication in safety checks with trading partners. However, full implementation remains ongoing, with no completed mutual recognition agreements announced as of the current date.

To become kept, the government must finalize and implement specific mutual recognition agreements with key trading partners, demonstrating measurable reductions in approval times for new technologies while upholding safety standards. If these agreements are not achieved by the end of the 2025-2026 fiscal year, or if health and safety compromises are reported, the promise risks being broken.

Challenges and Criticisms

Some stakeholders have raised concerns about the pace of implementation, noting that while plans are in place, concrete outcomes like new bilateral agreements are still pending. Critics argue that reliance on third-party audits, as highlighted in recent reports, could pose risks to food safety if not managed carefully, potentially undermining the promise's safety assurances.

Overall Status

This promise is in progress.