The Fresh Produce Alliance – Canadian Produce Marketing Association, Dispute Resolution Corporation and the Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Canada -- held a webinar September 25 to explain the background of current consultations by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) on fruit and vegetable grade standards.
Background: Standards are intended to regulate the marketing of agricultural products in import, export and interprovincial trade and to provide for national standards and grades of agricultural products, for their inspection and grading. On January 15, 2019 regulations made under the CAP Act were repealed in favour of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR).
CFIA consultation questions to be considered:
- Which of the three options presented best serves the public interest and industry needs to the greatest degree?
- What is an appropriate role for CFIA in relation to developing and maintaining fresh fruit and vegetable grade standards (within its mandate and resources)?
- Considerations the CFIA should be aware of as it reviews options for transferring development and maintenance of fresh fruit and vegetable grades, in whole or in part, to a third party?
- Are there any other options or considerations (e.g. other Government of Canada priorities such as sustainability, food waste/food loss, food availability, climate change) that the CFIA should take into account in modernizing the approach for developing and maintaining Canadian fresh fruit and vegetable grade standards?
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