As a veterinarian who fairly recently changed career paths from companion animal practice to regulatory medicine, I was often asked questions by my colleagues, family and friends about why I would make such a change. What I realized in answering this question is the general lack of familiarity most people have with the role of a CFIA veterinarian employed by the federal government, and the role of the CFIA itself. This article is intended to be a general overview of the CFIA and the CFIA veterinarian in Canada.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency was first formed in 1997, as an amalgamation of food safety and food inspection programs from Health Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and Fisheries and Oceans. The goal of the CFIA is to enhance the safety of animals and plants, animal and plant products, and food produced in Canada. This is important not only for Canadian food producers and consumers directly, but also to protect Canada’s place in the world export markets and international trade.