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Description
of content: The Government of
Canada is committed to reducing red tape. In support of this commitment, the
Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has made the following amendments to
the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations
(SFCR) to remove outdated and unnecessary rules.
Removed
prescriptive labelling requirements for fresh fruit and vegetables (FFV)
The
CFIA has removed various prescriptive labelling requirements for FFV from for
the SFCR. These include:
·_
exempting
certain consumer prepackaged FFV from the requirement to provide the net
quantity on a label;
·_
exempting FFV
packaged in a clear protective wrapper or bag from mandatory labelling
requirements;
·_
amending the
minimum font size for mandatory information to 1.6mm for both consumer
packaged FFV and FFV packaged for shipping; and
·_
making size
designation statements optional for FFV labels.
In addition,
the CFIA has amended the Units of Measurement for the Net Quantity
Declaration of Certain Foods document (which is incorporated by reference
into the SFCR) to allow certain prepackaged and consumer packaged FFV (such
as ears of fresh sweet corn) to be declared by weight, volume, or numerical
count.
The
objectives of the labelling amendments are to reduce regulatory burden,
without compromising food safety or consumer protection. The amendments do
not trigger any mandatory labelling changes and are consistent with the Codex
Alimentarius Commission (Codex) labelling standards.
Modernized
Canada's approach to FFV grades
The CFIA has
modernized the approach to FFV grades by transferring the responsibility for
maintaining and updating Canada's FFV grades (except for onions, potatoes,
apples) from the CFIA to the Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution
Corporation (DRC). These FFV grades will be included in a new document
incorporated by reference into the SFCR entitled the "Fresh Fruit and
Vegetable Grade Requirements". This will allow Canada's FFV grades to be
more responsive to industry needs, new innovations, and enable market
competitiveness.
The CFIA will
establish a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the DRC to set appropriate
terms regarding maintaining the grade standards. The CFIA will be responsible
for providing a final analysis of the updates to ensure conformity with the
SFCR and trade obligations and will continue to be responsible for enforcing
the grades.
The CFIA will
continue to maintain the grade standards for onions, potatoes, and apples
given that the grading import requirements for these FFV support trade. They
will continue to be maintained in the "Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume
2 – Fresh Fruit or Vegetables" incorporated by reference document. The
CFIA will also maintain the grade standards for imports prescribed in the
"Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume 9 – Import Grade Requirements"
and the "Grade Standard Requirements for Fresh Fruits or Vegetables
Imported from the United States".
The CFIA has
also removed the mandatory grading requirement for FFV to be manufactured,
processed, or preserved (e.g., apples used in apple juice or fruit used in
purees in pastries and yogurt cups). This will reduce regulatory burden and
provide increased flexibility for industry.
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