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The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is proposing changes to grades and requirements relating to the fresh fruit and vegetable (FFV) industry.
In order to be marketed in import or interprovincial trade in Canada, certain fruit and vegetables must be graded.
Grades and requirements can be used as reference points to provide consistency in product quality, support in marketing products, inform consumer purchasing decisions, and establish a uniform trading language for pricing and contracts between buyer and seller.
Over the years the inspection agency has received comments from stakeholders that many FFV grade standards are outdated and do not reflect current market needs.
Because stakeholders helped identify these issues, the CFIA is asking for public input on these proposed changes.
Consultations are being done in phases, as the CFIA looks to ‘modernize and harmonize’ existing grade requirements relating to the quality of FFV and to introduce new grade standards.
Phase one focused on changes to greenhouse tomatoes and standards for mini cucumbers which closed on Dec. 31, 2021.
While phase two is narrowed in on new grades and requirements for apples, apricots, asparagus, grapes, peaches, pears, plum, and prunes as well as introucing new requirements for nectarines.
A summary of changes includes updated definitions and application sections and amendments to certain FFV-specific grade and size requirements.
Individuals reviewing the proposed changes are asked to open the current standard of the Canadian Grade of FFV in one window, and in a separate window open the proposed changes to facilitate comparison.
The CFIA is looking to hear comments from producers and packers, individuals and businesses involved in the domestic and international supply of FFV, and consumers and interested public parties.
Comments from the World Trade Organization (WTO) will also be analyzed by the CFIA to revise grade standards in the Canadian Grade Compendium.
Preliminary analysis of these proposed changes to grades and requirements determined minimal trade impact and would actually prove to be beneficial to Canadians, businesses, and the government.
Comments on proposed changes to grades and requirements are being accepted until Feb. 11, 2022, and can be made to [email protected]