No, there is no divesting of responsibility on the part of CFIA. In fact, part of our effort at CFIA has been in recognition of the changing risk environment in which food is produced, intensive agricultural production systems, globalization of food, increased utilization of foreign ingredients in Canadian food, and the reality of new and emerging pathogens in the food system associated with changes in the types of food consumers are looking for. These have required us to continually adapt our inspection systems, our residue monitoring programs, and our oversight activities.
Canada also participates with many other countries through the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the international standard-setting body for food safety. As they update standards around inspection approaches and verification, we in Canada want to be seen as being at the leading edge of international credibility in adopting those methods as well.
So there's no divergence. In fact, modernization, if you will, or inspection integrity improvement is a continuous process that we undertake at CFIA by inviting other countries to come to audit our inspection system. Because we are a major exporter, we are probably one of the most audited countries in the world. We take very seriously the recommendations of foreign audits of our system. In our audits of other countries' systems, we very much aspire to see if there is a better practice that will give us those same outcomes.
So there's no divergence. Modernization of inspection is necessary in a changing risk environment.