Canada eases import policy for Mexican cantaloupes
Canada eases import policy for Mexican cantaloupes
Canadian officials eased import requirements for Mexican cantaloupes in another sign that governments are embracing Mexico's certification program.
Mexican cantaloupes were linked to illnesses in Canada during 2001 and 2002, which prompted the U.S. and Canadian governments to ban cantaloupes from the lucrative markets. In response to both import alerts, the Mexican government developed a Cantaloupe Certification Program based on Good Agricultural Practices and Good Manufacturing Practices.
Since then, no Mexican cantaloupes have been found contaminated with Salmonella and none have caused a foodborne illness outbreak in the United States or Canada, said Canadian officials.
In October, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Mexican Department of Agriculture signed an agreement to allow certified Mexican cantaloupe shippers to resume shipments to the United States. Now, Canada has followed suit with a new import policy for Mexican cantaloupes.
Under the old policy, the Mexican government reviewed the GAPs and GMPs at the farm and, if approved, the businesses could ship to Canada.
"We required farm and packing houses to send GAPs and GMPs to us in Ottawa for review," said Ren? Cardinal of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Now we dont review the GAPs and GMPs of Mexican farms.
With Mexican authorities conducting their own reviews of cantaloupe exporters and no reported outbreaks here, Canadian food inspectors agreed to update the policy, said Mr. Cardinal.
In our policy, we have a list of acceptable farms and just cross-reference that list with the businesses listed on Mexicos web site, said Mr. Cardinal.
If every container of cantaloupes is identified by one of the certified companies listed by SENASICA, Mexicos agriculture department, then CFIA inspectors will allow the shipment to be marketed in Canada, according to the new policy. If a lot of Mexican cantaloupes does not meet the import requirements, CFIA inspectors will immediately detain it and require that it be removed from Canada.
The new policy is in place before the start of the peak shipping season for Mexican cantaloupe in April and May. Harvest starts at the end of October and finishes in June.
Mexican cantaloupes were linked to illnesses in Canada during 2001 and 2002, which prompted the U.S. and Canadian governments to ban cantaloupes from the lucrative markets. In response to both import alerts, the Mexican government developed a Cantaloupe Certification Program based on Good Agricultural Practices and Good Manufacturing Practices.
Since then, no Mexican cantaloupes have been found contaminated with Salmonella and none have caused a foodborne illness outbreak in the United States or Canada, said Canadian officials.
In October, the U.S. Food & Drug Administration and the Mexican Department of Agriculture signed an agreement to allow certified Mexican cantaloupe shippers to resume shipments to the United States. Now, Canada has followed suit with a new import policy for Mexican cantaloupes.
Under the old policy, the Mexican government reviewed the GAPs and GMPs at the farm and, if approved, the businesses could ship to Canada.
"We required farm and packing houses to send GAPs and GMPs to us in Ottawa for review," said Ren? Cardinal of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Now we dont review the GAPs and GMPs of Mexican farms.
With Mexican authorities conducting their own reviews of cantaloupe exporters and no reported outbreaks here, Canadian food inspectors agreed to update the policy, said Mr. Cardinal.
In our policy, we have a list of acceptable farms and just cross-reference that list with the businesses listed on Mexicos web site, said Mr. Cardinal.
If every container of cantaloupes is identified by one of the certified companies listed by SENASICA, Mexicos agriculture department, then CFIA inspectors will allow the shipment to be marketed in Canada, according to the new policy. If a lot of Mexican cantaloupes does not meet the import requirements, CFIA inspectors will immediately detain it and require that it be removed from Canada.
The new policy is in place before the start of the peak shipping season for Mexican cantaloupe in April and May. Harvest starts at the end of October and finishes in June.
