2025 Agenda - Day 1

Gain insight into today’s sessions so you can get the most out of your conference experience.

Gain the regulatory clarity and confidence needed to navigate new guidelines in Canada’s evolving food landscape.

Operate confidently across borders by aligning your business with Canadian and international trade regulations. In today’s interconnected economy, compliance is not just a requirement — it’s a strategic advantage. Achieve a step-by-step action plan to:

• Understand and apply Canadian import/export regulations in a global context.
• Leverage technology to simplify customs documentation and ensure regulatory alignment.
• Build a proactive compliance framework that supports sustainable global growth.

Optimize your business to thrive on the international stage while staying fully compliant every step of the way.

As global trade expands, aligning Canadian food regulations with international standards is key to market access and consumer trust. Explore how regulatory harmonization supports both compliance and competitiveness. Take away specific solutions to:

• Navigate Canada’s evolving food regulatory landscape in relation to Codex and other global frameworks.
• Identify key areas of alignment and divergence that affect exports and imports as well as engages regulators and stakeholders to shape a globally aligned compliance strategy.
• Leverage harmonized standards to streamline regulatory approvals and expand market reach.

Advance in the global marketplace by understanding the opportunities and challenges of regulatory harmonization.

Food claims can boost market appeal — but navigating the regulatory landscape is complex. From nutrient content to health claims, staying compliant while effectively communicating with consumers is critical. Master the success factors to:

• Understand the regulatory requirements for food claims under Canadian law and international standards.
• Differentiate between permissible claims and those that may trigger regulatory action.
• Ensure your marketing, labelling, and packaging align with the latest guidance and strengthen consumer trust through accurate, science-based communication.

Improve your ability to manage food claims with confidence, compliance, and credibility to build consumer trust.

Food claims can set your product apart but only if they’re backed by science and aligned with regulations. Navigate the complex world of permissible claims to avoid costly missteps and maintain consumer trust. Develop a blueprint to:

• Understand what makes a claim compliant, from nutrient content to health and functional claims.
• Learn how to substantiate claims with the right data, documentation, and scientific evidence.
• Avoid common pitfalls and discover best practices from real-world consulting case studies.

Master the tools and insights needed to craft effective claims that resonate with both consumers and regulators.

Regulatory processes in the food industry can be time-consuming, inconsistent, and costly — so where do industry leaders see real opportunities to streamline? Take back to your office strategies to:

• Identify the biggest bottlenecks in regulatory workflows across supply chains, product categories, and regions.
• Discover real-world examples of companies that have successfully streamlined audits, submissions, and approvals.
• Gain actionable strategies to scale your regulatory processes while maintaining accuracy, transparency, and trust.

Optimize your operations with practical insights that reduce complexity and strengthen compliance to stay competitive in an evolving global market.

As the United States shifts focus away from food regulation, Canada faces new challenges in ensuring food safety and trade stability. With cross-border food trade decreasing, the CFIA is stepping forward to protect public health, support domestic industry, and uphold global standards. Master the success factors to:

• Assess the implications of a deprioritized FDA on Canada’s import controls, inspection regimes, and risk assessments, and understand how Canada is adapting regulatory oversight in response to weakened U.S. collaboration and declining trade volume.
• Strengthen internal food systems to reinforce domestic resilience and consumer confidence.
• Explore opportunities for Canada to lead globally in science-based food regulation and innovation.

Amplify Canada’s leadership in food safety and trade resilience to reinforce domestic oversight and global credibility.

Stay ahead of evolving regulations with AI-powered solutions designed to protect your business and optimize your compliance workflows. Embrace a flexible, proactive strategy for regulatory alignment. Develop a blueprint to:

• Utilize AI to continuously track regulatory updates and enable real-time compliance responses.
• Automate compliance records and reporting with intelligent documentation tools.
• Maximize efficiency and cut costs by simplifying food safety compliance management.

Transform your operations with innovative AI technologies to elevate and future-proof your regulatory compliance strategy.

Selling food across provincial lines in Canada can be more complicated than international trade. With each province applying its own rules, businesses must navigate a complex patchwork of regulations that can stall growth and innovation. Source practical tips to:

• Understand the regulatory fragmentation that affects interprovincial food trade and what this means for producers and retailers.
• Examine real-world case studies from sectors like alcohol, dairy, and meat, and identify emerging opportunities and efforts to harmonize provincial standards.
• Develop strategies to navigate compliance barriers while expanding market reach within Canada.

Achieve mastery of the regulatory realities of interprovincial trade to confidently expand market access and drive business growth.

Review the key solutions and takeaways from today’s sessions. Source a summary of action points to implement in your work. Discuss tomorrow’s highlights!

• Relax and unwind with tasty cocktails after a long day of learning.
• Don’t miss your chance to win fun prizes by scanning your badge at our exhibitor booths.
• Make dinner plans with your new connections and explore the best of what Toronto nightlife has to offer. Just be sure to set your alarm for Day 2!