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Requirements for growers
To be eligible to export apples produced in Canada to the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) growers in all provinces must register with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) by completing and signing a compliance agreement. The agreement can be obtained by contacting your local CFIA office.
The compliance agreement will include but not be limited to the following requirements which must be met by growers located in all provinces:
Pest monitoring
- Conduct pest monitoring and control for the pests of concern for the EU and the UK. Contact your local CFIA office. for the list of pests of concern
- Pest monitoring and control must be conducted by an Integrated Pest Management (IPM) Specialist or an identified pest manager
- The recommended monitoring and control measures as provided by the grower's provincial production guide will be implemented for the pests of concern
- For some of the pests of concern, if specific monitoring and control measures are not recommended by the provincial production guides, then control measures must be implemented in the registered orchard
- Apples will not be eligible for export to the EU and/or the UK if they are produced in a registered orchard in which monitoring and control measures have not been applied for pests of concern where the pests are known to occur within Canada
Records
- Registered growers must complete and maintain monitoring and spray records for each registered orchard
- The records must be made available to CFIA upon request and must be reviewed by the CFIA office prior to receiving a request for an export certification inspection
Packing
- Apples for export to the EU and UK must be packed at a packing facility that has been registered with the CFIA
- During harvest and transfer to the registered packing facility, the registered grower must maintain the identity of apples from registered orchards and prevent co-mingling with apples from non-registered fields
Export certification
- Consignments will not be approved or be eligible for export to the EU or the UK if any of the pests of concern are found during the CFIA export inspection
- If any of the pests of concerns are found during the CFIA export inspection of two or more consignments of apples originating from the same registered orchard, apples from the orchard will be suspended from export to the EU and the UK for the remainder of the season
- Registered growers are responsible for respecting any other regulations in place in the EU and the UK, including Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs)
Requirements for packing facilities
To be eligible to export apples produced in Canada to the European Union (EU) and the United Kingdom (UK) packing facilities located in all provinces must register with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) by completing and signing a compliance agreement. The agreement can be obtained by contacting your local CFIA office.
Note: the Safe Food for Canadians Act requires a licence to export some commodities, including apples.
The compliance agreement will include but not be limited to the following requirements which must be met by packing facilities located in all provinces:
Product source
- The apples must be sourced from registered orchards
- Copies of purchase invoices or delivery slips must be presented to the CFIA on request and must be maintained for 2 years after harvest
Inspection
- At any point between arrival at the facility and prior to packing, the packing facility must inspect a minimum of 10% of the apples for pests
- If symptoms of pests are noted, apples must be cut in half to inspect for the presence of pests
- If pests are detected, samples must be submitted to the CFIA for identification
- If pests of concern are found during inspection or sampling the lot is not eligible for export to the EU or the UK
- The registered packing facility must provide training to those conducting the inspections and sampling to recognize the signs and symptoms of pests
Records
- A list of registered orchards that may supply apples for export to the EU and the UK must be maintained
- A traceability system must be implemented to ensure the traceability of each carton to the registered grower and orchard and the registered packing facility
- Records of inspection, packing and sale for each lot of apples received from registered orchards and exported to the EU and the UK must be maintained
- Records of calibration of grading and defect detection equipment, as well as any corrective actions, and training must also be maintained
- Records must be maintained for a minimum of 2 years after harvest. Records must be made available to the CFIA upon request
Sorting
- The registered packing facility must wash and sort the apples manually and/or electronically to remove defective or damaged apples and any plant debris
Labelling
- Registered packing facilities must label each carton with the name and address of the packer, "apples" and the country of origin "Canada".
Storage and transport
- Prevent pest introduction when apples are stored in cold storage and during transport
Export certification
- The packing facility must be inspected and approved by the CFIA prior to receiving apples for export to the EU or the UK
- The registered packing facility must have a dedicated area for the CFIA to conduct the export certification inspection. The dedicated area must be away from moving traffic and forklifts, and include a worktable as well as adequate lighting
- The consignment will not be eligible for export to the EU and the UK if pests of concern are found during the CFIA export inspection
- If pests of concern are found during the CFIA export inspection of two or more consignments of apples originating from the same registered orchard, apples from the orchard will be suspended from export to the EU and the UK for the remainder of the season
- Registered packing facilities are responsible for respecting any other regulations in place in the EU and the UK, including Maximum Residue Limits (MRLs)