Evidence of meeting #59 for Agriculture and Agri-Food in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was labelling.
A recording is available from Parliament.
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
Thank you, Mr. Bonnett.
Monsieur Breton, we're probably going to do five minutes because we're squeezed. I'm sorry about that.
11:55 a.m.
Liberal
Pierre Breton Liberal Shefford, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
Thank you for being here, gentleman.
My riding is in one of the largest apple growing regions of Quebec. We also have a major processing plant, Industries Lassonde, which is probably one of the largest producers of juice in Canada.
A number of farmers in my region have told me that non-tariff measures often pose more significant barriers than customs and tariffs themselves at this time.
I would like to hear your thoughts on this. Have you heard about this in your industry, Mr. Lemaire?
11:55 a.m.
President, Canadian Produce Marketing Association
For the apple industry there are some key barriers, depending on the size of production and the operation you're working with, on ministerial exemptions, and on the movement of product in bulk. I know that some growers are in favour. There are others who are looking at how they can expand and develop their market with the removal of the standard container rules. It's a very controversial topic. The other components that do come into play link back into the discussion we had earlier on maximum residue limits and access to technology.
The alignment and the joint registration of products is key, so when the horticulture sector is looking to access a new technology and the input companies are not willing to register due to the extreme high cost in Canada and the size of our market, it's a concern. How do we allow and enable improved access to these technologies through an improved and innovative registration system, domestically and at an international level, so that they can access new technologies in a more expedient manner?
On MRLs, when we look at the Codex process, we can see that it is extremely slow and cumbersome. You're looking at maybe two a year that move through the system. As well, the backlog that's in place is extremely long. How do we move that forward? How do we take an innovative approach to try to, again, drive joint registration?
11:55 a.m.
President, Canadian Federation of Agriculture
Very briefly, on your question about the cost of non-tariff barriers, some studies have been done that suggest they may be even more costly than tariff barriers. There are examples of re-inspection of product going across the border. You have to account for the delays and the time, and sometimes you might even have lost product because the product is perishable and it gets held up at the border.
I think it's recognized that it has a significant cost, and I think some studies have indicated that it may be as high as, or even higher than, some of the tariff barriers that are in place. That would suggest that it is extremely important to have it dealt with as we move forward.
Noon
Liberal
Pierre Breton Liberal Shefford, QC
The market access secretariat has created a list of 300 problems to be addressed, including those related to non-tariff barriers. I would like to know how satisfied you are with the priority ranking of the items on this list. Also, do you have any suggestions for us in this regard?
Noon
President, Canadian Federation of Agriculture
I think that one of the things that gave the market access secretariat weight when it started was the strong support behind it by a minister and the prime minister at the time. It needs that same type of support behind it. At the same time, with the increased export targets that have been set in the budget, this is just one of the tools that have to be addressed. We were talking earlier today about how the fact that agriculture has this profile now is both an opportunity and a challenge. We've been targeted with increasing these exports, but if we don't deal with non-tariff barriers and some of the barriers that we actually have internally in our own systems, we're not going to meet those targets.
I think the market access secretariat is a component and the Regulatory Cooperation Council is a component, but we have to stop using flowery language about the types of issues that are addressed and really get into the specifics.
Noon
President, Canadian Produce Marketing Association
Very quickly, the challenge is also the volume they are dealing with and how they are rating and identifying priorities. It's very difficult for the market access secretariat. The volume of people who are trying to influence where the priorities are put is a challenge. They are doing the best they can with the rating system they have in place, and trying to identify what is number one versus number 300.
Noon
President, Canadian Federation of Agriculture
There are 300 priorities. I have that on my farm.
Noon
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Pat Finnigan
Thank you.
This concludes this portion of the meeting today.
I just want to add that, as many have said, we have travelled south of the border, and one thing that I noticed, for our cattle producers out west, is the importance of relationships, constantly. We met with the National Cattlemen's Beef Association and the North American Meat Institute, and they know our industry. They want to have a seamless border and they have a tremendous relationship with the Canadian side of it. That's what I noticed, and it is very important that the message is getting through. They will stand up for that, so it's great to keep that relationship going.
Thank you, Mr. Bonnett, from the Canadian Federation of Agriculture, and also Mr. Lemaire with the Canadian Produce Marketing Association.
This will conclude this segment of the meeting, and we will suspend.
[Proceedings continue in camera]