Fish import licence reeled in

Canada’s food safety watchdog has suspended Costco Canada’s fish import licence for not following food safety controls on a consistent basis.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency says Costco is in violation of federal fish inspection regulations and the suspension of its licence took effect on Feb. 26.

It says there is no product recall associated with the suspension.

“The CFIA has determined that adequate controls for food safety are not being reliably implemented by the company on a consistent basis, which is in violation of the Fish Inspection Regulations,” the agency says on its website.

The CFIA says Costco can’t import fish products into Canada until it takes corrective action and the agency is satisfied that the chain can effectively manage food safety risks.

Costco Canada said the import licence was used to import a limited number of loads of canned tuna products. The company said the suspension does not affect any other fish sold in Costco Canada warehouses. It said it is “strengthening its standard operating procedures. …

“This issue did not present any risk to Costco’s members nor was there any recall associated with this licence suspension,” the company said in an email Monday

Costco said its licence was suspended for not following three administrative issues in the last two years. Twice the store failed to properly notify the CFIA about a load of canned tuna being imported. On another occasion canned tuna was transported directly to Costco’s depot for distribution rather than to a warehouse for CFIA inspection.