The regulatory framework in which we operate is constantly evolving.
We are subject to employment, health and safety, cyber and data security, privacy, environmental, tax, advertising, competition and other laws, and regulation by government agencies such as Health Canada, CFIA and FDA who regulate various aspects of our products, including food safety standards, preventive controls plans, traceability and current good manufacturing practices. In particular, our production facilities and products are subject to inspection by CFIA, FDA, and provincial, state and municipal health authorities, as applicable. We strive to maintain compliance with all laws and regulations. Nevertheless, there can be no assurance that we are in compliance with all such laws and regulations, have all necessary permits and licenses, and will be able to comply with such laws and regulations, or obtain such permits and licenses in the future. Failure by us to comply with applicable laws and regulations and permits and licenses could subject us to civil remedies, including fines, injunctions, recalls or seizures, as well as potential criminal sanctions, which could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations. If we, or third parties involved in the supply chain of our products, cannot successfully manufacture, package, label, store, advertise or distribute products that conform to the specifications and the strict regulatory requirements of the CFIA or other applicable regulators, we may be subject to adverse inspectional findings or enforcement actions, which could materially impact our ability to market our products, could result in our inability to manufacture our products, or could result in a recall of our products that have already been distributed.
The regulatory environment in which we operate could change significantly in the future. Enforcement of existing laws and regulations, changes in legal requirements and/or evolving interpretations of existing regulatory requirements may result in increased compliance costs and create other obligations, financial or otherwise, that could adversely affect our business, financial condition or results of operations. In particular, any change in laws and regulations, including laws and regulations applicable to the manufacture, composition, ingredients, packaging, labeling, distribution, advertising, sale, quality and safety requirements for our products may lead to an increase in costs or interruptions in production, either of which could adversely affect our operations and financial condition.
A material disruption or a security breach affecting our information technology systems could significantly affect our business and lead to reduced sales, growth prospects and reputational damage.
We rely on our information technology systems to manage our business, including customer, employee, product, inventory, supply chain and financial data. We also use mobile devices, online message platforms and other online activities to communicate with employees and other stakeholders. The failure of our information technology systems to operate effectively could adversely affect our business. In addition, our information technology systems are subject to damage or interruption from power outages, computer and telecommunications failures, computer viruses, cyber-attacks, phishing attacks, denial-of-service attacks, social engineering attacks, ransomware attacks, security breaches, catastrophic events such as fires, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hurricanes, pandemics, acts of war or terrorism, and usage errors by our employees. If our information technology systems are damaged or cease to function properly, we may have to make a significant investment to fix or replace them.
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