Canada: Canada Consults on Modernizing Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Grade Standards

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has opened a consultation as part of their modernization of Canadian food quality standards. The consultation on grades and standards for fresh fruits and vegetables (FFV) will run from July 22 to October 20, 2024. CFIA is seeking stakeholder feedback to better understand how FFV grades are used in the marketplace, identify opportunities to reduce burdens on industry and support industry competitiveness, and to understand how altering and/or maintaining grades standards may affect stakeholders. CFIA is asking stakeholders to weigh in on three options for modernization: 1) an industry body will take over governance of FFV grades standards, 2) expand the mandate of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Council to develop and maintain FFV grades standards, or 3) CFIA maintains FFV grades standards but pivots to focus on an outcome-based approach.