Agenda
Day 1 — Main Conference
November 30, 2026
Registration and Networking Continental Breakfast
Shalene Curtis-MicallefDeputy Minister of HealthHealth Canada
Canada’s food and consumer landscape is evolving rapidly, shaped by changing health priorities, rising consumer expectations, and emerging challenges affecting the food industry. This opening keynote will explore the key policy priorities shaping Canada’s food sector, what they mean for businesses, and the challenges organizations should be watching as they plan for what’s ahead.
Keith CurriePresidentCanadian Federation of Agriculture
Michael GraydonCEOFood, Health & Consumer Products
Sonia ParmarVice President, Regulatory Affairs and Government RelationsCanadian Health Food Association
Matthew SmithChief Agriculture Negotiator and Director General,
Trade Agreements and NegotiationsAgriculture and Agri-food Canada
Matthew KronbyPartner - International TradeOsler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP
North American trade is entering a new period of uncertainty. Following the July 2026 CUSMA Joint Review, the uncertainty around the agreement’s future remains, while ongoing tariff pressures and geopolitical tensions continue to reshape cross-border trade and supply chains.
This session will examine the implications for Canada’s agriculture and food industry and the evolving North American trade landscape.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding the implications of the July 2026 CUSMA Joint Review and the new annual review process
- Assessing how tariffs and trade uncertainty are affecting sourcing, investment, and supply chain decisions
- Identifying strategies to strengthen resilience and reduce exposure to trade disruption
- Evaluating the outlook for North American food trade and its impact on Canadian production and food businesses
Morning Break & Networking
Spotlight on Health Canada’s Healthy Eating Strategy
Health Canada’s Healthy Eating Strategy: What It Means for the Future of Food Regulation
Michi Furuya ChangEVP, Public Policy, Regulatory Affairs and Head Division StrategyFood, Health & Consumer Products of Canada
Prianka KalraiyaAssociate Director LegalWK Kellogg Canada Corp
William YanRegulatory Affairs Specialist, Faculty of Health SciencesUniversity of Ottawa
Janine MacNeilPartner, Advertising & MarketingMcMillan LLP
Health Canada’s Healthy Eating Strategy continues to shape the regulatory landscape for Canada’s food industry influencing nutrition policy, product development, reformulation, and labelling requirements.
This session will examine key policy priorities under the strategy and what they mean for food manufacturers, retailers, and CPG companies navigating Canada’s evolving nutrition regulatory framework.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding Health Canada’s key nutrition policy priorities and regulatory direction
- Examining the impact of front-of-package nutrition labelling and reformulation initiatives
- Assessing how evolving nutrition policies may influence product development and portfolio decisions
- Identifying emerging developments shaping food regulation
Brian P. SylvesterPartner, FDA & Head of Food RegulatoryMorrison Foerster
Laura WeinribPartnerBlakes
Ultra-processed foods (UPFs) are receiving growing attention in the U.S., with federal agencies examining how these foods should be defined and understood within the broader food and nutrition landscape.
As the scientific evidence develops and regulatory thinking evolves, food companies will need to consider potential impacts on product formulation, ingredients, labelling, and market strategy in both the U.S. and Canada.
This session will examine the current U.S. landscape and offer a Canadian perspective on the potential implications for food industry practices and cross-border business decisions.
Key Takeaways
- Understanding the evolving U.S. approach to defining ultra-processed foods
- Examining the latest scientific and regulatory considerations
- Assessing potential implications for Canadian food companies and product development
Networking Lunch
Jason MoscoviciFounder, PresidentProvisions Legal Services Inc.
Roselynn OkobiaManager, Food Regulation & StrategyThe Kraft Heinz Company
François LarosePrincipalSmart & Biggar LLP
Quebec’s evolving French-language requirements under Bill 96, together with Canada’s new Front-of-Package (FOP) nutrition labelling rules, are reshaping how food manufacturers, importers, and retailers approach packaging, labelling, and marketing compliance. This session will provide practical insights into the key requirements, business considerations, and strategies companies should consider when updating packaging, trademarks, marketing materials, and compliance processes.
Key Takeaways
- Understanding the latest Bill 96 requirements affecting food products sold in Quebec
- Examining the intersection between Quebec language obligations and Health Canada’s FOP nutrition labelling requirements
- Identifying key packaging, trademark, and marketing considerations
- Exploring practical approaches to support compliance and minimize regulatory risk
Jason BaillargeonDirector, Food Policy DivisionStrategic Policy Branch Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada
Jean-Emmanuel PoitrasDirector of Policy and Regulatory AffairsFood and Beverage Canada
Jay HolmesExecutive Director, Business Enablement and Regulatory ServicesCanadian Food Inspection Agency
George EllinidisVice President and General Counsel - Canada & International Smucker Foods of Canada Corp.
Following the launch of Canada’s first-ever National Food Security Strategy on June 11, 2026, backed by more than $3 billion in federal investments over ten years, governments and food systems partners and stakeholders will work together to strengthen domestic production, infrastructure, and supply chain resilience.
This session will explore key policy priorities, investments, and initiatives shaping Canada’s food supply system and what they mean for the food industry.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding government priorities shaping food security in Canada
- Examining the impact of infrastructure investment and domestic production initiatives
- Exploring strategies to strengthen supply chain resilience
- Identifying implications for food industry planning and operations
Afternoon Refreshments & Networking
Martha CarmanPrincipalCarman Consulting Inc.
Yolande DufresneCounselTorys LLP
Dinesh PuravankaraDirector-Scientific & Regulatory Affairs The Coca-Cola Company
Katrina CoughlinPartnerGowling WLG
Canada’s new supplemented foods framework allows manufacturers to add certain vitamins, minerals, and amino acids to foods and beverages, including products such as energy drinks under a modernized regulatory approach.
This session will explore what these changes mean for CPG companies, including opportunities for product innovation, evolving labelling requirements, and the challenges of navigating federal requirements alongside emerging provincial measures, such as Quebec’s restrictions on the sale of energy drinks to minors.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding Canada’s new supplemented foods framework and regulatory approach
- Exploring opportunities for innovation in CPG products
- Navigating federal and provincial regulatory differences
- Managing compliance risks in an evolving regulatory landscape
Regulatory Update
Food Packaging Regulation — Preparing for Health Canada’s New Submission Framework
Victoria AsikisAssistant General CounselFerrero Canada Ltd
John FieldChief, Chemical Health Hazard Assessment Division - Contaminants and Packaging, Bureau of Chemical SafetyHealth Canada
Julia SchatzPartnerBennett Jones LLP
Food packaging is undergoing significant regulatory and technological change as companies adopt recycled materials and innovative packaging technologies while continuing to meet food safety requirements.
This session will examine Health Canada’s evolving approach to food packaging regulation, including the development of a proposed mandatory food packaging submission program, the use of recycled plastics, and the intersection of food safety and environmental considerations.
Key Takeaways:
- Preparing for the proposed submission framework
- Managing regulatory considerations for recycled and innovative materials
- Examining the practical implications for food companies, including compliance, innovation and packing decisions
- Balancing food safety, sustainability, and packaging innovation
Closing Remarks & Conference Adjourns to Day 2
Day 2 — Main Conference
December 1, 2026
Networking Continental Breakfast
Joyce BoyeDirector General
Food and Nutrition Directorate, Health Products and Food BranchHealth Canada
Angela GiancateriniHead of Legal, CanadaMars
Joanna O’ReillyDirector General, Horizontal Business and Transformation, Food Safety and Science BranchCanadian Food Inspection Agency
Lewis RetikLeader, Food and Beverage GroupGowling WLG
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) enforcement is becoming increasingly proactive and risk-based, with greater focus on inspections, licensing and compliance across the food sector.
This session will explore evolving enforcement priorities by CFIA and help you develop a practical, compliant and risk-based approach to the new CFIA era.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding changing CFIA enforcement priorities and areas of increased scrutiny
- Navigating evolving expectations for inspections, licensing, and traceability
- Developing strategies to strengthen compliance programs and reduce risk
Morning Break & Networking
George EllinidisVice President and General Counsel - Canada & International Smucker Foods of Canada Corp.
Amy PressmanPartnerDLA Piper (Canada) LLP
Katarina SmolkovaFood Regulatory Specialist Canadian Food Consulting AgencyFormer Senior Compliance Officer, CFIA
This session will explore how food companies can manage inspections, recalls, and post-recall challenges. Our speakers will help address root causes, strengthen compliance programs to reduce future risk, as well as implement a crisis management response.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding post-recall regulatory obligations and expectations.
- Navigating investigations, corrective actions, and remediation efforts.
- Managing legal and compliance risks following a recall.
- Strengthening collaboration between legal, regulatory, quality, and operations teams.
- Enhancing food safety and compliance programs.
Lara Boulanger-StewartExecutive Director, Consumer Protection and Market Fairness Division, Food Safety and Science BranchCanadian Food Inspection Agency
Wendy HultonPartnerDickinson Wright
Food fraud continues to create significant risks to product authenticity, consumer trust, and supply chain integrity. As regulatory expectations around traceability, supplier accountability, and preventive controls evolve, food companies must proactively identify vulnerabilities and strengthen their ability to prevent, detect and respond to food fraud risks.
This session will bring together legal counsel and a regulatory professional to examine the legal and regulatory implications of food fraud, drawing on industry challenges and insights from the CFIA Food Fraud Report 2024–2025 to help food companies better understand emerging risks and their compliance implications.
Networking Lunch
Tural GulmammadovFounder & CEOMergen AI
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly embedded in regulatory, compliance, and communication systems, reshaping how decisions are made and how information is generated and reviewed. While AI offers significant opportunities for efficiency and insight, it also introduces new challenges around accuracy, accountability, oversight, and regulatory expectations.
This session explores how AI is transforming regulatory practices, and the safeguards organizations need to ensure responsible and compliant AI use across operations.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding how AI is changing regulatory compliance, and communication systems
- Recognizing risks associated with automated content and AI-driven decision-making
- Identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, analysis, and regulatory workflows through AI
- Understanding expectations for human oversight, accountability, and control
Michelle SaundersVice President, SustainabilityFood, Health & Consumer Products of Canada
Mark YoudenPartnerGowling WLG
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) requirements continue to create compliance and cost-management challenges for food manufacturers, importers and CPG companies operating across Canada. Differences in provincial obligations, packaging classifications and fee structures can increase financial exposure, create reporting risks and complicate business planning.
This session will examine practical approaches to managing EPR obligations across multiple provinces, with a focus on packaging cost drivers, reporting oversight and emerging regulatory requirements. Drawing on practical examples, speakers will identify common compliance gaps and outline actionable strategies to help businesses manage costs, strengthen reporting practices and reduce regulatory risk.
Key Takeaways:
- Mapping internal EPR responsibilities and clarifying accountability
- Identifying opportunities to reduce packaging costs and EPR fees
- Closing reporting gaps and improving audit readiness
- Prioritizing actions to address compliance risks and changing requirements
Afternoon Refreshments & Networking
Catherine BatePresident & CEOAd Standards
Kelly HarrisPrincipal & FounderHarris + co.
Barbara McLeodSenior Legal Counsel, SustainabilityMcCain Foods
George EllinidisVice President and General Counsel - Canada & International Smucker Foods of Canada Corp.
From health and nutrition claims to sustainability and environmental messaging, food companies are facing increasing scrutiny from regulators, competitors, and consumers. As expectations continue to evolve, organizations need to ensure every claim is accurate, evidence-based, and able to withstand regulatory review and legal challenge.
Join industry leaders as they examine the latest enforcement trends, common compliance pitfalls, and practical strategies for developing, substantiating, and defending product claims with confidence.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding substantiation requirements for health, nutrition, ingredients, sustainability, and environmental claims.
- Exploring emerging enforcement trends, including greenwashing risks and competitor challenges.
- Strengthening claim review, approval, and governance processes.
- Improving collaboration across legal, regulatory, scientific, sustainability, and marketing teams.
- Understanding the impact of Canada’s advertising-to-children initiatives on food advertising and product claims
Andrew KaikaiSenior Legal Counsel and Privacy OfficerDanone Canada
Pavan Virdee Data Protection Officer and Senior Legal Counsel, Marketing & Privacy Unilever
Food companies are increasingly collecting and using consumer data through loyalty programs, e-commerce platforms, and customer interactions. As privacy requirements continue to evolve, organizations need to ensure they are managing consumer information responsibly while meeting regulatory obligations and protecting consumer trust.
Key Takeaways:
- Understanding how evolving privacy requirements impact food manufacturers and CPG companies.
- Managing consumer data collection, use, and sharing responsibly.
- Strengthening data governance and consent management practices.
- Identifying key privacy risks associated with consumer data management.