Safe Food for Canadians Act (S.C. 2012, c. 24)

Marginal note:Offences

• 39 (1) A person who contravenes a provision of this Act, other than sections 7 and 9, or a provision of the regulations — or fails to do anything the person was ordered to do by, or does anything the person was ordered not to do by, the Minister or an inspector under this Act other than subsection 32(1) — is guilty of an offence and is liable

  • (a) on conviction on indictment, to a fine of not more than $5,000,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years or to both; or

  • (b) on summary conviction, for a first offence, to a fine of not more than $250,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than six months or to both and, for a subsequent offence, to a fine of not more than $500,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than 18 months or to both.

• Marginal note:Due diligence defence

  (2) A person is not to be found guilty of an offence under subsection (1) if they establish that they exercised due diligence to prevent the commission of the offence.

• Marginal note:Offences — other provisions and orders

  (3) A person who contravenes section 7 or 9 or who, in contravening any other provision of this Act or a provision of the regulations or in failing to do anything the person was ordered to do by, or in doing anything the person was ordered not to do by, the Minister or an inspector under this Act, other than subsection 32(1), knowingly or recklessly causes a risk of injury to human health is guilty of an offence and is liable

  • (a) on conviction on indictment, to a fine the amount of which is at the discretion of the court or to imprisonment for a term of not more than five years or to both; or

  • (b) on summary conviction, for a first offence, to a fine of not more than $500,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than 18 months or to both and, for a subsequent offence, to a fine of not more than $1,000,000 or to imprisonment for a term of not more than two years or to both.

• Marginal note:Parties to offence

  (4) If a person other than an individual commits an offence under subsection (1), any of the person’s directors or officers, or agents or mandataries, who directs, authorizes, assents to or acquiesces or participates in the commission of the offence is a party to the offence and is liable on conviction to the punishment provided for by this Act, even if the person is not prosecuted for the offence.

• Marginal note:Proof of offence

  (5) In a prosecution for an offence under this Act, it is sufficient proof of the offence to establish that it was committed by an employee or an agent or mandatary of the accused, even if the employee or the agent or mandatary is not identified or prosecuted for the offence, unless the accused establishes that the offence was committed without the knowledge or consent of the accused and that the accused exercised all due diligence to prevent its commission.