Canada to modernizes destination inspection service
Canada to modernizes destination inspection service
After years of negotiations, Canadian produce groups announced that an agreement has been reached to modernize the country's destination inspection service and ultimately produce a system that will guarantee timely and accurate inspections.
The agreement calls for a restructuring of the destination inspection service of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and collection and allocation of resources to make the program sustainable.
Wayne Morris, who has worn various hats in Canada's produce industry including a stint with CFIA and who is currently a consultant for the Fresh Produce Alliance, recently explained the need for the change to The Produce News.
FPA is comprised of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, the Canadian Horticultural Council and the Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corp. along with representatives from regional trade associations, U.S. grower-shipper organizations and officials from CFIA, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada and the Agriculture Marketing Services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. FPA is working on many new programs designed to improve the produce business environment in Canada.
Mr. Morris said that the restructuring of the destination inspection service, which will make it comparable to that in the United States, is a monumental achievement. He explained that over the past years, two factors have combined to create a slow deterioration of the inspection service. In the first place, government resources for inspection activity were reduced. And second, there was a reshuffling of priorities that put security and plant and health issues at the top of the list. Inspection for quality purposes was not a high priority. It is common industry knowledge that the result was untimely inspections. If a receiver called for an inspection on a disputed load, the wait time was "substantial," according to Mr. Morris.
Under the new protocol -- when it is fully implemented several years from now -- the standard will call for 80 percent of inspections to be completed within eight hours of a request and 100 percent completed within 24 hours of a request.
To accomplish this goal, CFIA has agreed to restructure its line of command and the industry has agreed to provide sustainable resources through increased fees. While the framework has been worked out, Mr. Morris said that implementation of the first phase is not scheduled until April 1, so all the details have yet to be worked out or even agreed upon.
He said that the fees are expected to be phased in over a three- year period, while the standards of service should be phased in over two years. Again, all the necessary agreements are not in place, but Mr. Morris said that the fee will be changed to an hourly rate rather than one based on weight.
"We expect the fee for the first year to be less than $100 (Canadian) per hour. Following the first year, a number of assessments will take place to see if that funding level is sufficient," he said.
Likewise, he said that the standards of service will have to be phased in because many new inspectors will have to be hired and trained over the next few years.
According to Mr. Morris, the biggest changes in the structure are the elimination of some of the layers of command and the allocation of more resources to front-line inspectors.
The agreement between CFIA and the industry guarantees that if the industry maintains the necessary funding, CFIA will guarantee to operate according to the set standards of service. Consequently, Mr. Morris said that the FPA will immediately begin efforts to identify potential funding sources for the program above and beyond the service fees. An industry oversight group is expected to become part of the agreement.
The CFIA issued a press release announcing the change in which it quoted a number of Canadian and U.S. shipper representatives praising the agreement.
"Florida growers and shippers are thrilled about the prospects of an improved destination inspection service in Canada," said Mike Stuart, president of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association. "We look forward to working with CFIA and the industry in implementing the new system."
Western Growers Association Executive Vice President Matt McInerney was quoted as saying, "the announcement by CFIA today is a welcomed development toward improving the business environment through an improved destination inspection program that will be responsive to the market place through modernized best-management practices that will bring an improved confidence and transparency to inspections in Canada. As an association representing exporters of nearly 200 commodities, I laud the efforts of CPMA, CHC, the Fresh Produce Alliance and the CFIA for the leadership and responsiveness to addressing this critical need to the industry."
Daniel Decelle, president of the Quebec Produce Marketing Association, added, "This news comes as a breath of fresh air to the industry that has long awaited improvements to the CFIA Destination Inspection Program here in Canada. These changes will help to avoid disputes due to the improved timeliness of inspections."
Mr. Morris announced that a series of industry meetings will be held across Canada in August and September to inform users of the DI service, the changes and the compelling reasons for these changes. He said that meetings have been planned for Vancouver (Aug. 28), Calgary (Aug. 29), Winnipeg (Aug. 30), Toronto (Sept. 6), Montreal (Sept. 8) and Moncton (Sept. 7). He indicated that other sites will be added if needed.
The agreement calls for a restructuring of the destination inspection service of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and collection and allocation of resources to make the program sustainable.
Wayne Morris, who has worn various hats in Canada's produce industry including a stint with CFIA and who is currently a consultant for the Fresh Produce Alliance, recently explained the need for the change to The Produce News.
FPA is comprised of the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, the Canadian Horticultural Council and the Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corp. along with representatives from regional trade associations, U.S. grower-shipper organizations and officials from CFIA, Agriculture & Agri-Food Canada and the Agriculture Marketing Services of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. FPA is working on many new programs designed to improve the produce business environment in Canada.
Mr. Morris said that the restructuring of the destination inspection service, which will make it comparable to that in the United States, is a monumental achievement. He explained that over the past years, two factors have combined to create a slow deterioration of the inspection service. In the first place, government resources for inspection activity were reduced. And second, there was a reshuffling of priorities that put security and plant and health issues at the top of the list. Inspection for quality purposes was not a high priority. It is common industry knowledge that the result was untimely inspections. If a receiver called for an inspection on a disputed load, the wait time was "substantial," according to Mr. Morris.
Under the new protocol -- when it is fully implemented several years from now -- the standard will call for 80 percent of inspections to be completed within eight hours of a request and 100 percent completed within 24 hours of a request.
To accomplish this goal, CFIA has agreed to restructure its line of command and the industry has agreed to provide sustainable resources through increased fees. While the framework has been worked out, Mr. Morris said that implementation of the first phase is not scheduled until April 1, so all the details have yet to be worked out or even agreed upon.
He said that the fees are expected to be phased in over a three- year period, while the standards of service should be phased in over two years. Again, all the necessary agreements are not in place, but Mr. Morris said that the fee will be changed to an hourly rate rather than one based on weight.
"We expect the fee for the first year to be less than $100 (Canadian) per hour. Following the first year, a number of assessments will take place to see if that funding level is sufficient," he said.
Likewise, he said that the standards of service will have to be phased in because many new inspectors will have to be hired and trained over the next few years.
According to Mr. Morris, the biggest changes in the structure are the elimination of some of the layers of command and the allocation of more resources to front-line inspectors.
The agreement between CFIA and the industry guarantees that if the industry maintains the necessary funding, CFIA will guarantee to operate according to the set standards of service. Consequently, Mr. Morris said that the FPA will immediately begin efforts to identify potential funding sources for the program above and beyond the service fees. An industry oversight group is expected to become part of the agreement.
The CFIA issued a press release announcing the change in which it quoted a number of Canadian and U.S. shipper representatives praising the agreement.
"Florida growers and shippers are thrilled about the prospects of an improved destination inspection service in Canada," said Mike Stuart, president of the Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association. "We look forward to working with CFIA and the industry in implementing the new system."
Western Growers Association Executive Vice President Matt McInerney was quoted as saying, "the announcement by CFIA today is a welcomed development toward improving the business environment through an improved destination inspection program that will be responsive to the market place through modernized best-management practices that will bring an improved confidence and transparency to inspections in Canada. As an association representing exporters of nearly 200 commodities, I laud the efforts of CPMA, CHC, the Fresh Produce Alliance and the CFIA for the leadership and responsiveness to addressing this critical need to the industry."
Daniel Decelle, president of the Quebec Produce Marketing Association, added, "This news comes as a breath of fresh air to the industry that has long awaited improvements to the CFIA Destination Inspection Program here in Canada. These changes will help to avoid disputes due to the improved timeliness of inspections."
Mr. Morris announced that a series of industry meetings will be held across Canada in August and September to inform users of the DI service, the changes and the compelling reasons for these changes. He said that meetings have been planned for Vancouver (Aug. 28), Calgary (Aug. 29), Winnipeg (Aug. 30), Toronto (Sept. 6), Montreal (Sept. 8) and Moncton (Sept. 7). He indicated that other sites will be added if needed.
