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

• Safe Food for Canadians Act (SFCA)
• Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR)
• Plant Protection Act (PHA)
• Plant Protection Regulation (PHR)

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

• Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume 2 – Fresh Fruit or Vegetables
• Operational Directive (OD-159-2014) – Direction on the Export of Potatoes originating from Prince Edward Island to the United States (accessible only on the Government of Canada network – RDIMS 6100818)
• Operational procedure: Fresh fruits or vegetables grade verification
• Operational procedure: Issuing an export certificate for fresh fruits and vegetables (accessible only on the Government of Canada network – RDIMS 11179558)
• Certificate of Origin (CFIA/ACIA 5565) (accessible only on the Government of Canada network)
• Phytosanitary Certificate (CFIA/ACIA 3369)
• United States Department of Agriculture Agricultural Marketing Service potato import regulations

4.0 Definitions

Unless specified below, definitions are located in either the:

• MyCFIA Glossary of terms
• Safe Food for Canadians Regulations: Glossary of key terms

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:

• quality inspections and certification of red-skinned potatoes for grade, size and maturity are not required to meet US import requirements;
• US importers may request an inspection at US destination on a voluntary basis; and
• for lots not accompanied with a FFV inspection certificate, a certificate of origin (CFIA/ACIA 5565) or a phytosanitary certificate must be obtained from a Plant Health inspector.
  • Detailed instructions for the Plant health inspectors are in the memo to the inspectors "United States import requirements for potatoes from Canada" (accessible only on the Government of Canada network – RDIMS 2133013).
  • In case of doubt on the origin of the lot, the certificate of origin (CFIA/ACIA 5565) or a phytosanitary certificate should not be signed until proof of origin is provided.

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:

• The Canada grade the product is inspected to (for example, "Inspected to Canada No.1, or "Inspected to Canada No.1, except for size"); and
  • The statement "The potatoes in this shipment originate from the province of ". (Note: With this statement, a certificate of origin is not required).

6.2.3 Certify the product as:

• "Meets the requirements of the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations" (if, in all respects, the product meets the requirements of the SFCR Regulations) or
  • "Meets the requirements of the Safe Food for Canadian Regulations, (except for size, packaging and labelling"), as appropriate; and
• "Meets U.S. Import Requirements of 7 U.S.C. 608e-1".

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