Share your thoughts: Proposed changes to the Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume 2 – Fresh Fruit or Vegetables

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is proposing, at the request of the fresh fruit and vegetable (FFV) industry, to modernize and harmonize existing grade requirements relating to the quality of FFV and to introduce new grade standards for certain commodities.

This consultation is being conducted in phases, each phase open for 60 days, to solicit comments from stakeholders regarding proposed changes to the grades and requirements for FFV.

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:

• changes in consumer demand and demographics
• developments in technology and innovation, including but not limited to plant and variety breeding
• improved and innovative production practices, storage and packing technologies
• harmonization of standards with international trading partners, and
• new grade standards where there are none existing and for which industry consensus has been achieved

In response to these market needs, the proposed changes include new size requirements, clarifications to terminology for defects and tolerances, and the introduction of new standards for certain commodities.

Join in: how to participate

• Learn more about the proposed changes: Overview of the proposed changes to the Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume 2 – Fresh Fruit or Vegetables
• Review the timelines for the phased approach
• Sign up for email notifications to receive updates on each phase of the consultation
• Send an email with your ideas or comments to make yourself heard

A phased approach

This consultation will take place in phases based on the following considerations:

• phased work by the Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation (DRC) to develop industry consensus on proposed changes to grades and requirements prior to submitting these to the CFIA
• CFIA's need to conduct an in-depth analysis of the proposed changes, develop consultation materials, and respond to questions, comments and raised issues, and
• stakeholder readiness to implement changes to grades and requirements

Each phase will focus on a group of commodities, will be posted online and will be open for a two-month consultation period. A notification will be sent when each phase is open for comment.

• Phase 1: proposed changes to grades and requirements for greenhouse cucumbers and greenhouse tomatoes, including a new standard for greenhouse mini cucumbers: ran from October 29 to December 31, 2021 Closed
  • What we heard report
• Phase 2: proposed changes to grades and requirements for apples, apricots, asparagus, grapes, peaches, pears, plums and prunes and introduce new grades and requirements for nectarines: ran from December 10, 2021 to February 11, 2022 Closed
• Phase 3: will propose changes to grades and requirements for beets, carrots, onions, cabbage, parsnips, potatoes and rutabagas
• Phase 4: will propose changes to grades and requirements for Brussels sprouts, cantaloupes, cranberries, celery and rhubarb (field)
• Phase 5: will propose changes to grades and requirements for blueberries, cauliflower, cherries (sweet), corn (sweet), cucumbers (field), lettuce (head) and strawberries

Who is the focus of this consultation

The CFIA is seeking 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

Key themes for discussion

You are invited to share your ideas and input with regards to proposed changes to FFV grades and requirements, focusing on the following key themes:

• current market and consumer needs
• harmonizing Canadian requirements with those of our trading partners
• potential effects on your business decisions and activities, such as human and financial resources and label changes

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 a notice about each phase of the consultation, sign-up for email notifications and select Fresh Fruit and Vegetables. A message will be sent to you with updates on the next phase of this consultation.

What we are hearing

What we heard report – Phase 1 consultation on Canada's proposed changes to grades and requirements for greenhouse cucumbers, greenhouse tomatoes and greenhouse mini cucumbers

Contact us

Your opinion counts!

The CFIA welcomes comments from its stakeholders on the proposed changes to the Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume 2 – Fresh Fruit or Vegetables.

Submit your ideas, questions, concerns or comments to cfia.labellingconsultation-etiquetage.acia@inspection.gc.ca.