Backgrounder: Summary of items from the 2025 Annual Meeting of Federal, Provincial and Territorial (FPT) Ministers of Agriculture

Business Risk Management

Ministers were updated on the full range of activity by FPT officials related to the implementation of Business Risk Management (BRM) programs under Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, including recent adjustments agreed to at their meeting in July. They also had a forward-looking discussion on examining the entire BRM suite as part of the Next Policy Framework negotiations. Discussions included the consideration of further work on AgriStability allowable expenses, such as those that may benefit smaller farms, and disaster support.

Next Policy Framework

The Next Policy Framework (NPF) is the 5-year agreement between FPT governments that will guide future investments and priorities for Canada’s agriculture and agri-food sector. It will build on the current Sustainable CAP and will outline programs, funding, and policy directions. To support this work, Ministers instructed FPT officials to begin work to develop a Policy Statement for Ministers to review at the next Annual Conference, which will provide direction on the key priorities for the framework.

Internal trade of food

Ministers received an update on work underway to support food businesses that wish to trade across Canada. The federal government regulates food that crosses provincial, territorial, or international borders. The Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR) set consistent rules for businesses who prepare food for trade across Canada or internationally, as well as for those who import food. Provinces and territories regulate food and food safety within their own borders, including intra-provincial and territorial supply management systems and quotas resulting from federal-provincial-territorial agreements. Ministers agreed that the federal, provincial and territorial governments must continue to work closely with industry to uphold food safety while reducing trade barriers and improving the movement of food products across Canada without putting our access to export markets at risk.

Animal disease preparedness and response

FPT governments, industry and sector partners continue to work collaboratively to advance preparedness measures to safeguard against animal and plant threats. This work continues through integrated prevention, surveillance, and response activities on avian influenza, African swine fever, Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, Bovine Tuberculosis, and aquatic diseases, among others.