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September, 2007 Edition
What's Happening at the FCC
Bill C-45 (Fisheries Act, 2007)
The FCC produced a document entitled “Bill C-45 (Fisheries Act, 2007): Issues and Concerns”. The document was submitted to the Department of Fisheries and Oceans in August to form a basis for meetings between the FCC and DFO to seek amendments to Bill C-45 when, and if, it goes to Parliamentary Committee for review.
Parliament reconvenes in October and it is speculated that this current session of Parliament will be ended. As such, the government will have to make a decision regarding Bill C-45 – reintroduce it at the First Reading or allow it to die. The government has stated that, if this session is closed, its intention is to bring back to Parliament some of the current Bills. Minister Hearn is committed to obtaining a new Fisheries Act.
Our recommendation is that the Bill be allowed to die and new legislation drafted that addresses the concerns tabled by the FCC. The FCC and DFO are reviewing schedules to determine a date(s) for the FCC Fisheries Act working group and DFO Policy, Fisheries Management, and Legal officials involved with Bill C-45 to meet.
FCC Meeting with Carole Swan, the new President of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
FCC met recently with Carole Swan, President of CFIA. It was an initial meeting to get to know each other. Senior executives of CFIA also participated. Below were the FCC’s main talking points for the meeting:
1. Overview
Seafood is the world’s most highly traded food product;
globalization in the sector has been rampant with China becoming the preferred country for primary processing;
need to develop a formal high level CFIA- Seafood Industry consultation mechanism. Formal regional consultation mechanisms are also required to address issues of a more technical nature.
CFIA laboratory rationalization has caused some disconnects – major markets for aquaculture products are Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver – testing is in Halifax; testing for mercury in BC sablefish is in Halifax
2. Exports ($4 billion)
fish & seafood is unique in CFIA as 80% of Canadian production is exported; most other food sectors are more focused on the Canadian market;
Canadian industry was the first food sector in the world to adopt a mandatory HACCP food safety regime and now has progressed to a HACCP Plus regime (QMP);
since 9/11, there has been a major expansion in the number of countries that require a CFIA certificate in order for the product to enter the country;
need to ensure (i) the integrity of the export certificate; and (ii) streamlined administration process in order to meet the export demands and time lines; FCC is working with CFIA towards a “systems” approach rather than a shipment inspection approach to export certification;
industry and CFIA must work closely together to support the industry’s export orientation and to ensure its food safety reputation is protected.
CFIA has two very important mandates regarding seafood – food safety and trade facilitation;
3. Imports ($2 billion)
USA, the EU, and Japan are the major markets for fish and seafood. However, Canada at $2 billion, is an important, growing import market, particularly for aquaculture products;
import sector is diverse. There is a need to ensure that there is a level playing field across the sector regarding CFIA’s inspection regime.
because of the integration of the US and Cdn markets and the dominance of the US market ,it is important that the zero tolerance regimes, tolerances for aquaculture residues, etc are harmonized as much as possible;
Cdn seafood inspection regime was built to serve a wild fish exporting industry. Significant updating is required to accommodate the emergence of import of primary product for further processing in Canada and the growth in imports of aquaculture products
need to consider CFIA certification of off-shore laboratories in order to shorten/improve the supply chain, particularly for aquaculture products;
EU – Herring and Yellowtail Flounder
Now that the EU cooked & peeled shrimp quota has been increased annually to 20,000 mt for the 2007-09 period, the FCC has entered discussions with the German processing association regarding a collaborative initiative to get the EU to enhance the import regime for Canadian herring and yellowtail flounder. Although the recent import regime change helped the herring sector somewhat (the eligible size for whole herring was reduced to 100g from 140g), further improvements are required. Regarding yellowtail flounder (sole), the EU introduced a frozen sole fillet quota for 2007-2009. Although rock sole from British Columbia is eligible for the quota, the Atlantic yellowtail flounder was not included in the eligible sole species. We will attempt to get an amendment to increase the quota somewhat and get Limanda ferruginea included as an eligible species.
EU: Export Certificates
On May 1, 2007, the EU introduced new requirements regarding the CFIA export certificate to the EU. CFIA will be meeting with EU inspection officials in October to review a number of issues including the impact, if any, of the new certificates. The FCC undertook to canvass industry to see how the changeover went. Thus far, the response has been that the changeover went about as well as could have been expected. However, please advise the FCC:
if your company experienced any difficulties with the new certificate;
if your company had to change any procedures as a result of the new certificate;
if your company found that different requirements were imposed depending on the EU port of entry;
the new certificate requires new information. Was this information readily available for you to complete the certificate?
Atlantic Lobster Summit, Halifax, October 15&16
The Canadian Centre for Fisheries Innovation (CCFI) has organized a “Plate to Oceans”, Lobster Summit at the Holiday Inn Select, Halifax, October 15&16. The objective of the Summit is to bring together lobster industry leaders in harvesting, processing, buying, and exporting as well as federal and provincial officials to determine whether there can be any follow-up initiatives to maximize the value of the Atlantic lobster resource. Market demand & supply, emerging market challenges, harvesters’ issues, processors’ concerns will be tabled and reviewed in an attempt to reach consensus on some possible efforts to benefit all stakeholders.
Senior Official Change
Krista Mountjoy, Vice President, Policy, CFIA will be leaving CFIA to become Assistant Deputy Minister, Markets and Industry Services, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada.
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