The Fisheries Council of Canada submitted comments on the Canadian Food Agency’s “Product of Canada” initiative. The main points in the submission were that the status quo is preferred. However, if changes must be made, there should be two user friendly labels – a “Product of Canada” label for the “virtually all” Canadian content requirement and a “Made in Canada” (i.e. no qualifying statements such as the proposed “from domestic and imported ingredients”) for products that meet the current significant transformation criteria. As well, the FCC requested that migratory species such as Pacific salmon and Atlantic herring harvested by US harvesters that could be Canadian origin fish be deemed to meet the virtually all requirement. In addition, the FCC requested that the new rules apply only to products destined for the Canadian market.
NSERC Strategic Funding for Fisheries Approved
The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) has set aside a minimum of $4 million per year over the next three years for fisheries research projects in two broad areas: (i) Operational efficiency and technology development; and (ii) Strategic issues in resource and ecosystem sustainability.
Theme (i) seeks research projects that look at technology development to improve the economic performance and support innovation within the harvesting and processing components of the fishing industry. Theme (ii) seeks research projects that enhance knowledge of habitats and ecosystems; the impact of fishing on ecosystems; ecosystem-based management practices and resource enhancement initiatives.
The projects will be fully funded by NSERC. However, there are two fundamental requirements. The project must have an industry sponsor and be implemented by a university researcher.
The timeframe to access the 2009 funds is short. Project proposal have to be submitted by the end of October 2008. So, get together with your neigbourhood university professor and bring forward a project that if successful would be important to your company or your sector.
FCC Forms Import Committee
Canada’s seafood import market is now at $2 billion annually. The sourcing and nature of the imports has changed dramatically in recent years. 1/3 of imports are imported for further processing in Canada. As well, aquaculture products have grown substantially. Major growth in imports in recent years has come from China, USA, Viet Nam, Thailand, Chile, and India replacing imports from Russia, Iceland, Norway, and Denmark.
QMPI Revision Initiative
CFIA held a policy meeting in March and held workshop reviews in Vancouver and Toronto and a workshop is scheduled in Montreal this week. Following the completion of the workshops, CFIA will issue a finalized guideline document for companies to use for amending their current QMPI program.
The FCC Import Committee will try to develop a note to CFIA identifying key concerns regarding the initiative (e.g. need for mechanism to ensure QMPI revision submissions are evaluated on a consistent basis; need for appeal mechanism, etc).
Aquaculture/Drug Residue
Canada’s seafood safety program is built on a wild fish basis. As such, Health Canada’s aquaculture drug residue regime is considerably behind developments in major markets such as the USA and the EU regarding the definition of zero tolerance, action levels (e.g. deliberate contamination/environmental levels; false positives; product recall protocols); etc. As a result, some foreign suppliers are refusing to supply the Canadian market because of the uncertainty of the Canadian drug residue regime.
The FCC Import Committee will develop a document as a basis for discussion with Health Canada and CFIA on the issue.
UN Port State Measures Treaty Negotiations Move Slowly
About 50 countries including Canada debated the wording of 10 articles of a 38 article draft treaty in Rome for a week in June. The treaty would compel countries to deny access to their ports by foreign vessels that have participated in illegal, unreported or unregulated (IUU) fishing; transshipping or transporting IUU caught fish; or provided personnel, fuel, gear etc. at sea to vessels fishing illegally. As well, the agreement would establish a port inspection regime for foreign flagged fishing vessels and foreign flagged vessels engaged in fishing related activities that are allowed in their ports.
The FCC has supported this initiative with its focus on vessels on the high seas as opposed to the initiative launched by the EU which would include documentation regarding imported fish products entering the EU through normal trade routes. As well, hopefully such a treaty would divert the US from developing its own IUU initiative which was provided for in the 2007 reauthorization of the Magnuson-Stevens Fisheries Conservation and Management Act.
Canadians’ Attitude towards Seafood
Health Canada commissioned Decima Research to assess Canadians’ knowledge; attitudes regarding the consumption of seafood, with special attention to the role mercury content may play. A total of 2,106 surveys were completed. The margin of error is plus or minus 2.1% at the 95% confidence level. Some of the key broad findings were:
80% eat fish in at least one meal every week. 20% stated they ate fish three or more times per week.
64% stated their consumption now is about the same as it has been for a while. However, those that reported a change, 25% reported an increase while 9% reported a decrease.
Those that reported increased consumption, 68% said it was because of health reasons.
Those that reported decreased consumption said it was because of taste (28%), cost (25%), availability (13%), and mercury (9%).
71% recall seeing or hearing something about mercury in fish and seafood
Of those that recalled a mercury message, 67% said it concerned specific types of fish and not seafood in general. 35% of these people were able to accurately identify one of the species identified in the advisory (tuna, shark, swordfish, escolar, marlin, orange roughy)
Of those that recalled the advisory, 50% felt it was aimed at all consumers; 39% recognized it was directed at certain groups in the population mainly identifying pregnant women and children.
In releasing the study, and responding to questions, Health Canada stated it was not considering any labeling measures but partnering with the medical community, the fishing industry, and providing info on its web-site.
Canada and Norway Sign Fisheries Cooperation Agreement
Canada and Norway signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Fisheries Cooperation, Aquaculture, and International Governance to promote opportunities for technical, scientific, and enforcement collaboration on fisheries issues. A Joint Commission will oversee implementation of the agreement, meeting annually.
