March, 2008 Edition

                                          What's Happening at the FCC

Greenpeace Contacting USA & Canadian Retailers

Greenpeace has sent sustainable seafood purchase questionnaires to US and Canadian retailers. The object of the project is to rank the seafood purchasing record of the retailers according to Greenpeace’s criteria. The intent is to use the media to reduce or eliminate the purchase of Greenpeace Red List species – some of which have been certified as sustainable by the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC). The Red List species are: Alaska Pollock, Atlantic Cod or Scrod, Atlantic Halibut (US and Canadian), Atlantic Salmon (wild and farmed), Atlantic Sea Scallop, Bluefin tuna, Big Eye Tuna, Chilean Sea Bass (also sold as Patagonia Toothfish), Greenland Halibut (also sold as Black halibut, Atlantic turbot or Arrowhead flounder), Grouper (imported to the U.S.), Hoki (also known as Blue Grenadier), Monkfish, Ocean Quahog, Orange Roughy, Red Snapper, Redfish (also sold as Ocean Perch), Sharks, Skates and Rays, South Atlantic Albacore Tuna,Swordfish, Tropical Shrimp (wild and farmed), Yellowfin Tuna. The Greenpeace report is expected to be released late May/early June.

The FCC is working with the National Fisheries Institute (USA), the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors, the Department of Fisheries & Oceans, and International Trade Canada on the issue. MSC, as well, has posted a statement on its web-site (www.msc.org) regarding Alaska Pollock, New Zealand Hoki, and Chilean Seabass. The intent is to provide US and Canadian retailers with the FCC/DFO’s conservation brochure “Protecting our Ocean Resources: A Fishery for the Future” and a letter from DFO, Fisheries and Aquaculture Management confirming to the retailer that the retailer should feel comfortable that Canadian fish is harvested from resources that are sustainable.

If you want the FCC/DFO material, contact the FCC.

SeaChoice – Canada’s Seafood Guide (sole/flounder)

SeaChoice’s wallet card and web-site have sole/flounder as an “Avoid” species. Their analysis is based on the stock status of the Southern New England – Middle-Atlantic component. Canada’s Atlantic coast flounder/sole resource off the coast of Newfoundland and Labrador is an untold success story with the stock now estimated by scientists to be at a level well above the level of the stock in its robust levels in the mid-1980’a. The FCC is in discussion with SeaChoice regarding the development of a rating for flounder/sole (NW Atlantic) or (Canada).

Export to Russia – Update

Further to last month’s report, the USA has become directly involved in the issue. Unlike Canada in which CFIA has had two face-to-face meetings; one in Canada and one in Russia, including the formation of a formal working group, the US did not directly engage Russia on the issue. Last month, the Russians advised the USA that the 5 largest seafood exporters from the USA to Russia are banned from further exports to Russia. The US seafood inspection agency inspected the 5 plants banned and found no food safety concerns. A USA/Russia video-conference meeting is now scheduled for March 17th.

While the Russian market has become very important to Canada’s shell-on shrimp industry, USA seafood exports to Russia are not particularly significant. As such, the current US position at this time is straightforward. Pre-conditions of agreeing to a Russian audit of the US seafood inspection regime is (i) lifting of the ban on the five exporters; and (ii) a formal up-front agreed audit plan including the purpose of the audit, the principles under which the audit will be conducted, etc.

Cooked & Peeled Generic Campaign – Update

FCC is working with associate member, the Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation (CCFI), to determine whether the Atlantic industry wants to pursue a generic promotion campaign. The intent is to contract a consultant to canvass industry members of their thoughts, recommendations, etc; develop a proposal, and present a proposal at an Atlantic cooked & peeled industry meeting to determine next steps, if any. The meeting would take place in the May/June period.

Atlantic Lobster Industry Roundtable – Update

Efforts are on-going to seek funding (ACOA/Atlantic Provinces & Quebec, DFO, etc.) to establish an Atlantic Lobster Industry Roundtable to pursue some of the consensus priority initiatives identified in the November Lobster Summit. Hopefully, funding can be put in place in April.

Exports to Egypt – Certification

Recently Egypt had requested that CFIA’s export certificates make specific declarations regarding fish health issues (epidemic and contagious diseases, etc.). After initial discussions, Egypt has agreed to accept the normal CFIA food safety declarations while the Egyptian request is fully discussed and reviewed.

New Drugs for Testing

Health Canada has advised CFIA to develop protocols, etc for the detection of the following drugs in seafood: Gentian Violet, Fluoroquinalones, and Macrolides (Erythromycin). CFIA will probably be able to roll out the requirements in April/May. In preparation, companies may want to begin testing for these drugs.

Enhanced Import Inspection Requirements for Aquaculture Products are Up for Review

The current 100% inspection of Chinese fin fish, eels, and shrimp (nitrofurans); the 20% inspection of SE Asia finfish; and the 100% inspection (Chloraphenicol/Nitrofurans) of all aquaculture imports from Vietnam (5% inspection with official Vietnam export certificate) are currently under review regarding their continuation. Results thus far indicate that moderation in these regimes may be appropriate.

Updated Import Regime

CFIA will be launching an updated import regime in 2008 to adjust to the increased volumes of imports into the Canadian market and for further processing plus the changed profile of those imports (i.e. increased imports of aquaculture products). The proposed changes will impact both on the QMPI and Basic Importer regimes. Key proposals:

QMPI: - Supplier’s Quality Assurance (SQA). This element will allow the Canadian importer to enter a documented agreement with a supplier which would be integrated into the company’s QMPI program. The agreement must meet specified requirements and verification procedures. This arrangement would allow the sampling and testing of product by the SQA, thus reducing or eliminating the testing required in Canada.

Basic Importer: Importer attestations that product meets CFIA regulatory requirements. Basic Importer will have option to use a Standards Council of Canada (SCC) accredited laboratories under certain circumstances.

Overall: establishment of CFIA procedures to assess import licence applications and renewals.

Consultations/Workshops

QMPI – workshops to be organized in Vancouver and Toronto/Mississauga in June.
Basic Importer – consultation/information sessions – Vancouver, Toronto/Mississauga, Montreal, Halifax, etc. in July through September.

Canadian’s Perception of the Safety of Canada’s Food Supply

Les Études de Marché Créatec, Montreal did a report for CFIA on how Canadians view the safety of the country’s food supply. Focus groups were held in Calgary, Toronto, Halifax, and Montreal (French) in November 2007. A total of 60 men and women participated in the study. Selected Key Findings are: