The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has launched a public consultation on proposed changes to fresh fruit and vegetables (FFV) grade standards. This offers a variety of stakeholders the opportunity to share their opinions with the agency, which could change policy for the better.
The consultation will be carried out in five phases, each focusing on a specific group of FFV commodities.
Each phase will be open for 60 days to solicit comments from stakeholders regarding proposed changes to the grades and requirements for FFV.
The CFIA seeks comments from:
- producers and packers
- individuals, businesses and organizations involved in the domestic and international supply of FFV
- consumers and interested public parties
- other government departments/agencies, including provincial/territorial and municipal
- trading partners
Phase 1 open from October 29, 2021 to December 31, 2021
Existing grades and requirements are outlined in the Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume 2 – Fresh Fruit or Vegetables incorporated by reference into the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR), administered and enforced by the CFIA. The objective of the proposed changes is to reflect the following market needs:
- Phase 1: proposes changes to grades and requirements for greenhouse cucumbers and greenhouse tomatoes, including a new standard for greenhouse mini cucumbers: open from October 29, 2021 to December 31, 2021.
- Phase 2: proposes changes to grades and requirements for apples, apricots, asparagus, grapes, peaches, pears, plums and prunes and introduce new grades and requirements for nectarines
- Phase 3proposes changes to grades and requirements for beets, carrots, onions, cabbage, parsnips, potatoes and rutabagas
- Phase 4proposes changes to grades and requirements for Brussels sprouts, cantaloupes, cranberries, celery and rhubarb (field)
- Phase 5 proposes changes to grades and requirements for blueberries, cauliflower, cherries (sweet), corn (sweet), cucumbers (field), lettuce (head) and strawberries
Please refer to the Overview of the proposed changes to the Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume 2 – Fresh Fruit or Vegetables before you participate. Sign up for email notifications to receive updates on each phase of the consultation
Later phases are expected to continue into late 2022 and the CFIA will notify stakeholders when each one begins.
Submit your ideas, questions, concerns or comments to:
[email protected].