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Operational procedure: Exemption of red-skinned round type potatoes exported to the United States and Puerto Rico

On this page

  1. 1.0 Purpose
  2. 2.0 Authorities
  3. 3.0 Reference documents
  4. 4.0 Definitions
  5. 5.0 Acronyms
  6. 6.0 Operational procedure
    1. 6.1 Issuing certificate
    2. 6.2 Product inspection

1.0 Purpose

The purpose of this document is to provide guidance to Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Food and/or Plant Health inspectors on actions to be taken when an exporter of red-skinned round type potatoes requests a quality inspection for a shipment going to the United States or Puerto Rico.

This document is intended to be used in conjunction with other guidance documents as referenced in section 3.0.

This guidance does not apply to potatoes of PEI origin. For guidance on this subject, please consult the Plant Health Operational Directive (OD-159-2014) – Direction on the Export of Potatoes originating from Prince Edward Island to the United States.

2.0 Authorities

The inspection powers, control actions and enforcement actions authorized by the above legislation are identified and explained in the Operational procedure – Food regulatory response guidelines.

3.0 Reference documents

4.0 Definitions

Unless specified below, definitions are located in either the:

5.0 Acronyms

Acronyms are spelled out the first time they are used in this document and are consolidated in the Food business line acronyms list.

6.0 Operational procedure

As of February 15, 2014, red-skinned round type potatoes imported into the United States (US) are now exempt from the United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service potato import regulations due to a corresponding change in US domestic requirements. As such, these potatoes are exempt from minimum grade, size, quality, maturity, as well as inspection requirements in place under title 7 of the US Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 980.

Although a quality inspection is not required to meet United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), all existing Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) plant health requirements must still be met. In the absence of a Fresh Fruit and Vegetable (FFV) inspection certificate, an attestation of phytosanitary status through Plant Health-issued documents (a certificate of origin or a phytosanitary certificate) will be required to replace the province of origin statement currently included on the FFV inspection certificate.

6.1 Issuing certificate

6.1.1 When an exporter requests a quality inspection for a lot of graded red-skinned round type potatoes going to the US or Puerto Rico, inform the exporter that:

6.1.2 After having been informed of the above, should the exporter still wish to proceed with the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable inspection request for CFIA in order to meet contractual agreements with US buyers, this inspection will be given a lower priority.

6.2 Product inspection

If an inspection of red-skinned round type potatoes is performed:

6.2.1 Perform the inspection following the Operational procedure: Fresh fruits or vegetables grade verification using the equivalent requirements found in the Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume 2 – Fresh Fruit or Vegetables to which is being requested in addition to the size requested.

6.2.2 On the FFV E3 inspection certificate, under Remarks, include:

6.2.3 Certify the product as:

For general inquiries related to this Operational Guidance Document, please follow established communication channels, including submitting an electronic Request for Action Form (e-RAF).

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