Proposed changes to the Units of Measurement for the Net Quantity Declaration of Certain Foods for fresh fruits or vegetables packaged in non-retail containers: Closed consultation

Current status: Closed

This consultation ran from May 28, 2024 to June 27, 2024.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) sought feedback from stakeholders on allowing the use of count for the net quantity declaration on non-retail containers (such as crates, master cartons, and shipping containers) of fresh fruits or vegetables in the Units of Measurement for the Net Quantity Declaration of Certain Foods. These products are not sold directly to the consumer.

Background

Under the current requirements, only certain fresh fruits or vegetables packaged in non-retail containers can use count to declare the net quantity of the food.

The proposed change would allow industry to declare the net quantity for these foods by either weight, volume or count.

The proposed change would not apply to fresh fruits or vegetables packaged in non-retail containers where the unit of measure must be shown as:

  • numerical count (items 45 to 48 of Table 1)
  • numerical count or volume (item 9 of Table 3)
  • weight (item 1 of Table 3)

We are proposing to amend the wording of item 50 of Table 1 to clarify how to apply the proposed requirement.

Similarly, we are also proposing to revise the wording of item 1 of Table 3 to clarify the current requirement. We are not changing how it applies.

While this proposal would not change the net quantity measure for consumer prepackaged fresh fruits or vegetables, the proposed change to item 1 of Table 3 would trigger a change to item 13 of Table 2.

Proposed change

The proposal would require changes to Table 1, 2 and 3 of the Units of Measurement for the Net Quantity Declaration of Certain Foods.

Amend Table 1 – Units of measurement for prepackaged food

Item 50: replace the current text in Column 1 with the proposed text below and add an "X" under Column 2 Numerical count
Compare current and proposed item Item Column 1
Prepackaged Food		 Column 2
Weight		 Column 2
Weight of the edible contents in the container exclusive of free liquid or glaze content		 Column 2
Volume		 Column 2
Numerical Count
Current 50. Fresh fruits or vegetables, other than those for which the net quantity has to be declared by numerical count in accordance with a provision of this table or table 2 X X
Proposed 50. Fresh fruits or vegetables, other than those for which the net quantity must be declared in accordance with a provision of this table, Table 2 or Table 3 X X X

Amend Table 2 – Units of measurement for consumer prepackaged food

Delete item 13 from Table 2 because these requirements would be captured in Table 1 with revisions to item 50
Compare current and proposed item Item Column 1
Consumer prepackaged food		 Column 2
Weight		 Column 2
Volume		 Column 2
Numerical count
Current 13. Fresh fruits or vegetables, other than those for which the net quantity has to be declared by numerical count in accordance with a provision of this table or table 1 X X X
Proposed 13. Repealed Repealed Repealed Repealed

Amend Table 3 – Units of measurement for prepackaged food other than consumer prepackaged food

Item 1: replace the current text in Column 1 with the proposed text below
Compare current and proposed item Item Column 1
Prepackaged food, other than consumer prepackaged food		 Column 2
Weight		 Column 2
Volume		 Column 2
Numerical count
Current 1. Fresh fruits or vegetables packaged in a bag, other than those for which the net quantity has to be declared by numerical count in accordance with a provision of this table or table 1 X
Proposed 1. Fresh fruits or vegetables packaged in a bag, other than those for which the net quantity has to be declared by numerical count or volume in accordance with a provision of this table or solely by numerical count in accordance with a provision of Table 1 X

Who was the focus of this consultation

The CFIA sought comments from:

  • primary producers
  • food processors
  • commercial enterprises or institutions such as a restaurant, hospital or school
  • retailers
  • importers and exporters
  • trading partners
  • other government departments/agencies, including provincial/territorial and municipal

Key theme for discussion

The CFIA asked how the proposed change would impact your day-to-day business.

What we heard

Final report

Related information

Contact us

Email: cfia.labellingconsultation-etiquetage.acia@inspection.gc.ca (include "Net Quantity Consultation" in the subject line)

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