Thank you.
I was talking about CVS. Canada's food inspection system builds on the strength of HACCP. The compliance verification system, or CVS, was designed in 2005 and became mandatory in 2008. CVS, of course, complements HACCP by ensuring that inspectors consistently complete specific tasks on a checklist within certain timeframes.
Some critics, as I said, have mischaracterized CVS as another level of paperwork or a weakening of enforcement. Once again, nothing could be further from the truth. Canada's food safety standards and regulations and CFIA's enforcement mechanisms all remain intact under CVS. As I said earlier, CVS was designed in 2005, then was pilot-tested and became mandatory throughout Canadian processing plants in 2008. CVS was not new. It's a standard procedure for Canadian food inspection.
As we continue to strengthen Canada's food safety system, it's important to look back at what happened last summer. As I've said, the outbreak was a tragedy by anyone's definition. All of those affected deserve a detailed account of what happened and a renewed effort to strengthen the system to prevent future outbreaks.
Last summer's outbreak brought together numerous government agencies--the Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada, provincial governments, local health units, the private sector, and of course the CFIA. Toronto Public Health first told the CFIA on August 6 about two cases of listeria at a nursing home. The CFIA then coordinated a sampling blitz with Ontario health and long-term care and Ontario health units. Accurate scientific sampling was essential to pinpoint the source of the problem and rule out other potential sources, such as improper handling and food preparation.
Within 24 hours of being informed of the initial two cases, the CFIA conducted intensive investigations to look for links between other listeria cases that might identify products causing the illnesses. The CFIA intensively investigated, beginning August 7, confirming listeria on August 16, and verifying the specific DNA fingerprint on August 23. At the same time, CFIA food specialists traced implicated products back to a specific production location. As soon as those trace-outs were done, the CFIA scrutinized production and distribution records from the affected Toronto plant to find and search for the products in question.
Late on August 16, the lab results were definitive and the science-based evidence identified a Maple Leaf plant in Toronto as the source of the tainted meat. Recalls of the tainted products started immediately in the early morning hours of Sunday, August 17. Those voluntary recalls were closely directed and supervised by the CFIA; therefore, mandatory recalls were not necessary in this specific case.
The CFIA alerted the public and recalled a total of 192 Maple Leaf products. The recall remained voluntary because Maple Leaf was prepared to act quickly and cooperatively, but mandatory recall powers were always in place if necessary. The CFIA conducted 30,000 effectiveness checks to make sure the recalled products were pulled from the shelves. These effectiveness checks included on-site visits as well as direct contact with retailers on Maple Leaf's distribution records.
After this summer's outbreak, the government took quick action to further strengthen our food safety system. On September 5 new directives were immediately implemented to require industry to more thoroughly and aggressively sanitize slicing equipment beyond even the manufacturer's recommendations.
Further product and environmental testing programs have been reintroduced and enhanced. You heard Dr. Brian Evans confirm that test results are being constantly reviewed, and the CFIA has reintroduced its own environmental testing as part of the inspection tasks, along with continued government end-product testing. Both processors and the CFIA can now more accurately analyze environmental testing results to spot trends and hopefully prevent outbreaks of the magnitude we saw last summer.
We continue to work with all of the government agencies responsible as well as industry leaders to find new ways to strengthen our food safety system. That's why the Prime Minister appointed Sheila Weatherill to lead the independent investigation into last summer's outbreak. Canadians know Ms. Weatherill is an extraordinarily qualified individual who has served as the CEO for one of Canada's largest health regions. Not only does Ms. Weatherill have extensive experience in public health, but she has also assembled a team of experts from a variety of backgrounds to work with her to independently examine the factors that contributed to this outbreak. She has the resources and wide-ranging mandate necessary to conduct a thorough and comprehensive independent review.
I've made the commitment to her that everyone involved will continue to cooperate fully. Contrary to statements made by some members of this committee, Ms. Weatherill and I will meet. As Ms. Weatherill has told this committee, everyone has fully cooperated with her during her investigation. When her report is completed this summer, it will be made public. I'm looking forward to studying that report, and we're committed to further strengthening our food safety system based on her recommendations.
Ladies and gentlemen, we all know that the events of last summer were triggered by a previously unidentified risk harboured deep inside a piece of slicing equipment. But we recognize that there's always room for improvement in everything we do. As new information and technology becomes available, we will continue to implement new ways to strengthen our food safety system. This government is giving the CFIA the resources necessary to make those improvements. We are committed to acting on the lessons learned and on the recommendations the independent investigation brings forward early this summer.
Thank you again for the opportunity to be here today, and I look forward to your questions.