Task force working to harmonize North American trade
Task force working to harmonize North American trade
In an increasingly complex produce world, the Canadian Produce Marketing Association, based in Ottawa, is leading a highly organized effort to simplify produce trade in North America.
In April 2004, CPMA created the North American Trade Task Force, which met in Ottawa Feb. 24. CPMA President Danny Dempster said that an all-star list of industry leaders is actively engaged in the group.
The chairman of the 21-member task force is John Anderson, president, chairman and CEO of The Oppenheimer Group in Vancouver, BC. Vice chairman of the body is Bruce Peterson, senior vice president of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in Bentonville, AR. Others on the board include leaders of the Produce Marketing Association, Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, Canadian Horticultural Council, Texas Produce Council, the Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corp., Western Growers Association and Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, as well as Domenic Raso, vice president of Loblaw Cos. and several principals of produce suppliers. Mr. Dempster said that the task force is also working in cooperation with the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association.
Mr. Dempster indicated that CPMA formed the task force to seek cross-border industry counsel on issues and to eliminate and reduce trade barriers and irritants. The task force is already meeting with Canadian and U.S. regulatory bodies to create solutions to problems or potential problems. Mexico will increasingly be involved in the effort.
Mr. Dempster said the entire experience has been extremely positive, with all parties and agencies recognizing the advantages of forward thinking and cooperation. He said nationalism or competitive strains have not been negative issues in any way.
Task force member Kathy Means, vice president of government relations for PMA, said that the group is very important for creating maximum industry efficiency in trade within North America. One example of the need for this work, she said, is the increased regulations on biosecurity and international trade are creating new sets of codes and regulatory paperwork. Rather than a single commodity having five or six different codes for various countries or agencies, the group hopes to find just one code number to suit all parties. Ideally, she said, such a number might tie into bar coding to maximize widespread efficiency. Work toward industry and governmental standardization could easily have broader international implications, she added.
According to CPMA, the group is working toward standardization and harmonization or acceptance of equivalency in trade regulation and customs practices. Also at issue is enhancing effective border measures without administratively complex or non-pragmatic and punitive regulatory measures. The task force is encouraging harmonized or equivalent pragmatic food-safety and security systems across the fresh vegetable and fruit supply chain, as well as fair and ethical trade practices.
Mr. Dempster said that individual task force members will be assigned "SWAT Team? duty through the course of this year to attend various agency meetings and such.
In April 2004, CPMA created the North American Trade Task Force, which met in Ottawa Feb. 24. CPMA President Danny Dempster said that an all-star list of industry leaders is actively engaged in the group.
The chairman of the 21-member task force is John Anderson, president, chairman and CEO of The Oppenheimer Group in Vancouver, BC. Vice chairman of the body is Bruce Peterson, senior vice president of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. in Bentonville, AR. Others on the board include leaders of the Produce Marketing Association, Fresh Produce Association of the Americas, Canadian Horticultural Council, Texas Produce Council, the Fruit & Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corp., Western Growers Association and Florida Fruit & Vegetable Association, as well as Domenic Raso, vice president of Loblaw Cos. and several principals of produce suppliers. Mr. Dempster said that the task force is also working in cooperation with the United Fresh Fruit & Vegetable Association.
Mr. Dempster indicated that CPMA formed the task force to seek cross-border industry counsel on issues and to eliminate and reduce trade barriers and irritants. The task force is already meeting with Canadian and U.S. regulatory bodies to create solutions to problems or potential problems. Mexico will increasingly be involved in the effort.
Mr. Dempster said the entire experience has been extremely positive, with all parties and agencies recognizing the advantages of forward thinking and cooperation. He said nationalism or competitive strains have not been negative issues in any way.
Task force member Kathy Means, vice president of government relations for PMA, said that the group is very important for creating maximum industry efficiency in trade within North America. One example of the need for this work, she said, is the increased regulations on biosecurity and international trade are creating new sets of codes and regulatory paperwork. Rather than a single commodity having five or six different codes for various countries or agencies, the group hopes to find just one code number to suit all parties. Ideally, she said, such a number might tie into bar coding to maximize widespread efficiency. Work toward industry and governmental standardization could easily have broader international implications, she added.
According to CPMA, the group is working toward standardization and harmonization or acceptance of equivalency in trade regulation and customs practices. Also at issue is enhancing effective border measures without administratively complex or non-pragmatic and punitive regulatory measures. The task force is encouraging harmonized or equivalent pragmatic food-safety and security systems across the fresh vegetable and fruit supply chain, as well as fair and ethical trade practices.
Mr. Dempster said that individual task force members will be assigned "SWAT Team? duty through the course of this year to attend various agency meetings and such.
