the canadian food inspection agency and its regulated parties, stakeholders and partners: an ethical...

7/28/2019 The Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Its Regulated Parties, Stakeholders and Partners: An Ethical Relationship

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The visionand mssion of theCanadian Food Inspection Agency(CFIA) setout our contribution tosafeguarding the food thatCanadians consume. They alsosetout our role in thesafetyandsustainability of theplant and animal resource basethat isthesource ofour food. All of this contributes to thehealth andwell-being of Canada'speople, environment and economy.The CFIA isthe Government of Canadaslargest science-based regulatory agency. I thas more than 7000employees across thecountry. including scientists. veterinarians.administrative professio rials. technicalpersonne. operational specialists. andmany others.Itbenefits the CFlA and itsregulatedparties. stakeholders and partners when wework together co-operativey. Understandingthe CFTA's ethical framework, within whichCFTA officials must operate. will hep you andyour employees when working with CFlA staff.This brochure will provide you with anexplanation of the values under which allof our employees are expected and obligated

Carole SwanPresident

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to operate; the main tenets of our Code ofConduct and our C o nfl ic t o f {Merest and Post-E r n p l' ? )l me nt C o d e; and an explanation of whatthis means to you-our regulated parties,stakeholders and partners.We think that by clearly communicatingwhat behaviour is. and is not. acceptable forour employees and for those with whom theeFTA does business. our reationships willbe enhanced.This will contribute to increased productivityfor our respective organizations. It will alsocontribute to increased transparency. thusheping us to earn and maintain the trustof Canadians.

George DaPontExecutive Vice-President


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. .The CFIA hasdeveloped the following set of valuesto supportdecision making in our role asascience-based regulator."A s employees of the Canadian FoodInspection Agency:

Wevalue scientific rigour and professionaland technical competence. These playacrucial role in our decision making.Wedo not manipulate science to achieveadesired outcome, but acknowledge thatother factors must be taken into accountin this decision making.The reputation and credibility ofthe Agency are vital to our ability todeiver our mandate. As such, webehave,internally and externally, in away thattrust is preserved.Weare proud of the contributions wemake to the quality of life of Canadians.Wevalue dedication and responsive-ness from all employees day to day andparticularly during an emergency.

Wevalue competent, qualified andmotivated personne. whose effortsdrive the results cfthe Agency.To deveop effective policies andstrategies, wevalue the perspectivesof the stakeholders who are affectedby our decisions.Wemaintain our regulatory independ-ence from all external stakeholders.Wehave the courage to make difficultand potentia.lly unpopular decisionsand recommendations, free Frompersonal bias.Weare commtted to our physical andpsychological wel- beng."

This set of values heps CFLA.employeesdetermne what should and should not bedone as they fulfill ther dally responsibilities.Weexpect that you and your employees willrespect these values in business decisions orinteractions that directly affect the CFIA.

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Physical andpsychological well-beingWeare commtted to the physical andpsychological wel-beng of all our employees.Wepledge to conduct ourseves professionallyand appropriatey while on your premses.treating your staff with courtesy and respect.At the same lime. when on your premses,CFlA employees are equally entitled tobe treated with respect byyour managersand staff.CfIA employees are expected to follow yourestablished safety procedures and complywith all instructions concerning healthand safety for the workplace. in accordancewith the C anada L abour C ode. P art [T . You arerequired' to take all reasonable and necessaryprecautions to ensure the safety and healthof CFTA employees and any people grantedaccess to your workplace.

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Conflict of interestMaintaining the trust of Canadians isvital toour ability to fulfill our mandate. Therefore.it is critically important that CFTA employeesavoid all conflicts of interest-even if theconflict is perceved rather than actual.The eFTA defines aconflict of interest as:A']Y situation in which personal assets, interests or activitiesaffect in a'2YwID"or have thepotential to appear to affect,the honest. impartial performance of an emplgyee's dutiesor theirjudgement to act in the publiC interest.I t isImportant to note that on emplgyee's duties do nothave to bedirectJ yaffected ~ personal interests to createa conflict of interest. [I is suffiCient that there is anappeorance to others that thrg m I D ' be affected. Sucha potential or apparent conflict of interest serves toundermine the credibili!J Iof theAgen9"s actionsand reputation.


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CFIA conflict ofinterest guidelinesThe CFtA has adopted aclear policy on actionsthat are permtted outside theworkplace, andon accepting gifts. benefits and hospitality.

CFIA employeesarenot permttedtoaccept anyoffers of gifts, hospitalityand other benefits fromorganizationsregulated.by theCFlA.CFIA employees may accept gifts,hospitality and other benefits fromother parties. so long as the gifts: are of nomnal value (less than $25). do not create areal or perceved.conflict of interestare infrequently givenare within normal standardsof courtesy or hospitalitydo not advertise/promote aregula ted party

In all other cases. gifts, hospitalityand other benefits must be disclosedby CFIA employees to the CFIA within15days of recept. Employees will notbe permtted to keep the gift if it isdeemed inappropriate by the Contlictof Interest Secretarial.

Therefore. regulated parties should not:offer CFIA employees any holi.day gifts,souvenirs. clothing. or other things ofvalue, orinvite them for paid meals, parties,sporting events, and simlar socialfunctions.

Ethical decision makingand relationships:ajoint commitmentIt is important to the CFIA that itsofflcialsmake decisions t.hat are ethically sound,because this assists the CFIA tomaintainand enhance the trust that the public hasin us. Regulated parties, stakeholders andpartners should be aware of the contextwithin which CFIA offlcials operateand the ethical obligations that governther actions.Such awareness on your part will hep youto understand the positions taken byofficialsthat reflect ther ethical obligations, such asthe reqUlrement that CFtA officials refuseoffers of hospitality. gifts or other benefitsfrom our regulated parties.

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Additional informationand queriesWebeieve that knowledge of the vauesand ethics of the CFlA ishepful inbuildingeffective working reationships between theCFlA and regulated parties, stakeholdersand partners.If you have any questions, please discussthem with the CFIA supervisor responsiblefor your premse.You may aso contact the Vaues andEthics Project of the CFLA by emal atCHAVaues- [email protected]_,~_,J :_1!_

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AcknowledgementsWewould specificaly like to acknowledgethe work of the Austraian Department ofDefence and the Canadian Department ofNationa Defence (Canadian forces) forther materias on ethica reationships;our work has benefited considerably fromthers.Wewould aso like to acknowledge the supportof the Public Service Alliance of Canada andthe Professiona Institute of the Public Serviceof Canada in creating this document.

{g2010Her Maesty the Queen in Right of Canada(Canadian food Inspection Agency), al rights reserved.Lsewithout permssion isproh ibired.Cflt\ P0730-10

the canadian food inspection agency and its regulated parties, stakeholders and partners: an ethical...

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