Delayed Introduction of New Grain Import Requirements Welcomed

CANADA - The Animal Nutrition Association of Canada is applauding a Canadian Food Inspection Agency decision to delay introduction of new import requirements on a range of grains entering Canada, writes Bruce Cochrane.
calendar icon 13 December 2012
clock icon 3 minute read

In response to concerns raised by feed industry stakeholders the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has delayed indefinitely the introduction of new import requirements on the grains of a range of crops entering Canada designed to guard against the introduction of foreign pests.

Under the proposed change, which had been scheduled to take effect 1 December, importers of grains for processing where pests would be destroyed would qualify for import permits where as importers of grains destined for uses where the pests could escape would require a phytosanitary certificate issued by the exporting country.

Animal Care Association of Canada executive director Graham Cooper says the proposed change has raised several questions.

Graham Cooper-Animal Nutrition Association of Canada

If you are required to get a phytosanitary certificate instead of an import permit then the concern is what is the process, what is the time frame, what is the infrastructure at the USDA, when will they be able to start issuing these permits.

The concern in terms of phytosanitary certificates is how much time would it take to get one, is the infrastructure at the USDA even capable of doing it.

It would appear that that is not the case at the present time, that more people would need to be hired and or brought in on contract, given the appropriate training etceteras and what is the situation in terms of getting the phytosanitary certificate into the hands of the customs brokers and or trucking companies or rail carriers so that these imports could then clear the border.


Mr Cooper applauds the Canadian Food Inspection Agency for delaying introduction of the new requirements and taking the time to look at the concerns in more detail.

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