Canada Gets Tough on Consumer Food Safety

TORONTO AND OTTAWA — Prime Minister Stephen Harper will unveil sweeping changes Tuesday that would vastly expand Ottawa's power to recall unsafe toys, food and drugs from the market, issue major fines and crack down on firms selling dangerous goods.

The proposed legislation includes a controversial measure that would allow groundbreaking new drugs onto the market much faster and with fewer safety checks so that treatments could reach patients sooner.

Industry would also face increased requirements to inform the government when consumers are injured or experience health problems after using a product, such as when a child swallows a small part or cosmetics cause a rash.

The sweeping package of product-safety changes is being introduced after recalls of everything from tainted pet food and E. coli in spinach to toys containing lead have created serious public concern over the quality of goods for sale in Canada.

Read the full Globe and Mail story here.