Agriculture Committee on April 6th, 2017

[Kris Panday]

This is a significant vegetarian market. Yes, there are opportunities on the meat side, but this is particularly significant market on the pulses and lentil side because of the nature of the diet. There are opportunities on the organic side for things as simple, but also as complex, as tomatoes and fresh peppers.

I had a discussion with greenhouse producers who are actively pursuing opportunities in India for fresh vegetables. It really does cover the waterfront in terms of opportunities. The key is to be able to establish the conditions under which Canadian business people can do business, and then to assist them in identifying credible business partners with whom they can build a franchise, build a business.

[David Anderson, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Have we been able to build a good Canadian brand in India?

I had a chance to go to the Tokyo food fair and see the high esteem that Canadian quality—especially pork products—is held in there. I'm just wondering where we are at in being able to develop that brand that we need to have in order to convince people that we produce the best—

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

A quick answer.

[Kris Panday]

I think we are definitely in a developmental position. You have to also note that Canada, in a large number of commodities, is a relatively high-end producer, so the market needs to be of the right income level to accept our products.

[David Anderson, Conservative, Cypress Hills—Grasslands, SK]

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Thank you, Mr. Anderson.

Ms. Lockhart, did you have a question?

[Alaina Lockhart, Liberal, Fundy Royal, NB]

Yes, I just wanted to ask the following of either of the witnesses.

You mentioned the plant quarantine order and that it would require notification to the WTO to get that changed. Can you describe that process, and what's the timeframe for that to happen?

[Kris Panday]

It's my understanding that the notification process, in and of itself, is not a particularly lengthy or onerous process. Presumably, there is a meeting of the sanitary and phytosanitary committee, at which time they might table their change. The greater time constraint, or time requirement, is the domestic gazetting process in India once they've filed with the WTO. That, I believe, is a two-month process.

[Alaina Lockhart, Liberal, Fundy Royal, NB]

Thank you. This is helpful. I think I just had a couple of minutes, so that's fine. I just wanted some clarification.

[The Chair, Liberal, Pat Finnigan]

Thank you very much.

I think we will end here. I want to thank the panel for giving us the pulse on the pulse, shall I say, and also for being here today with us.

We shall break for a few minutes. Then we'll come back for our committee business in camera.

Thank you so much.

[Proceedings continue in camera]