In general, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency does not register or approve labels. We respond to requests from industry and consumers on what labelling requirements are, which are reflected on those labels.
We do, however, under our trade and commerce legislation, have two scenarios within which there is mandatory label registration. It was put in place at the request of industry. It's in place for meat and poultry products for both domestic and imported products, and for domestic processed fruit and vegetables. There is a label registration unit that reviews the labels that are submitted as a result of that industry-requested regulation. It is subject to cost recovery, and the cost recovery reflects the services that are provided to that particular sector.
Many of the hold-ups that relate to a label registration relate to issues that need to be corrected on a label. Quite often, a party submitting a label may not agree with some of the changes that need to be made. I think it's been pointed out earlier that label space is very valuable. It's used for marketing purposes as well as for the core labelling requirements that are in place. We need to verify that those core labelling requirements are indeed on the label correctly and then verify that the additional information on the label remains truthful and not misleading.
Quite often hold-ups on label review relate to that type of back-and-forth between the submitter of the label and the assessors.