Backgrounder: Summary of items from the 2026 Annual Meeting of Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FPT) Ministers of Agriculture

Summary of items from the 2026 Annual Meeting of Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FPT) Ministers of Agriculture

Backgrounder: Summary of items from the 2026 Annual Meeting of Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FPT) Ministers of Agriculture From: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada

Backgrounder Summary of items from the 2026 Annual Meeting of Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FPT) Ministers of Agriculture Internal trade of food Ministers discussed efforts to support food businesses in expanding market access across Canada. Currently, federally licensed businesses who wish to sell food across provincial, territorial or international borders must meet the relevant federal requirements. To support their access to these markets, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), in collaboration with provinces and territories, offers tailored support to help provincially-licensed businesses obtain federal licenses.

Since early 2025, the CFIA has worked with over 50 companies under this model. The CFIA is partnering with provinces and industry associations to expand this initiative and reach businesses interested in learning more about federal requirements and accessing interprovincial and international markets. The CFIA is also proposing amendments to the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) to reduce barriers to the interprovincial trade of red meat when there is unmet slaughter capacity.

The amendments would provide a targeted, time-limited exemption to livestock producers and provincial slaughter establishments to allow them to test the market to trade meat in another province. The public consultation is underway. Red Tape Reduction Ministers also discussed proposed science-based amendments to align specified risk material related to Enhanced Feed Ban requirements with the United States, reducing unnecessary burden while maintaining protections for human and animal health.

The proposed amendments are now open for public consultation. Business risk management programs Ministers directed officials to prioritize longer term work on potential changes to business risk management programs for Ministerial consideration. Tools such as disaster assistance, Livestock Price Insurance, and support for small farms were highlighted as part of that discussion for officials to explore further.

Grocery Sector Code of Conduct Ministers discussed the Code’s role in promoting fairness, transparency and stronger relationships across the grocery supply chain. Fully implemented on January 1, 2026, with the appointment of a Board of Directors representative of all members, including major retailers, the voluntary, industry-led Code is intended to strengthen predictability and fair dealing across the supply chain. Animal Disease Preparedness and African Swine Fever Ministers discussed ongoing work to strengthen preparedness for African Swine Fever, Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), and other emerging animal health threats.

They emphasized the importance of coordinated planning, surveillance, biosecurity, and border measures to protect Canada’s livestock sector from foreign animal diseases. Ministers reviewed progress on zoning approaches, recognizing their role in minimizing market disruptions, and restoring access to key export markets as quickly as possible in the event of an outbreak. Crop protection and pesticides Ministers reviewed progress on implementing the FPT Action Plan to address the recommendations by the FPT Working Group on Pesticide Management including the Pesticides Regulatory Directorate (PRD) implementing lessons learned from their PT Advisory Committee.

They supported efforts to strengthen consultations, increase the sharing of science-based expertise, and advance research and knowledge transfer. These efforts will support the adoption of effective and innovative pest management tools and approaches, including biopesticides. Ministers also discussed federal amendments expanding the PRD’s mandate to formally consider food and economic security, in addition to health and environmental protection, and introduce mechanisms for exceptional, time-limited overrides of environmental risk decisions to address urgent or strategic priorities for agriculture.

FPT Action Plan Ministers emphasized the importance of applying an economic lens to the PRD mandate, while protecting human and environmental health and ensuring producers have access to tools that support competitiveness, productivity, and resilience across the agriculture sector. Emergency Management Ministers welcomed the renewal of the Emergency Management Framework for Agriculture in Canada. The updated framework establishes an all hazards approach to emergency management and outlines guidance for federal, provincial, and territorial governments, while working in partnership with industry and across the four pillars of emergency management.

These pillars include prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery. Related products

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