OTTAWA – Canada’s Horticultural Industry is enthusiastic about the Joint Action Plan initiatives proposed at today’s Regulatory Cooperation Council meeting, where Prime Minister Stephen Harper and President Barack Obama, discussed two action plans designed to assist cross-border trade and align regulatory approaches between Canada and the United States. The broad plan is being well received and commended by all sectors.
CHC President, Jack Bates, notes that "the Joint Action Plan Initiatives related to financial risk mitigation tools, crop protection product approvals, a perimeter approach to plant protection and common approaches to food safety are exactly what industry has been seeking for many years". These, along with a number of other items will help enhance producer competitiveness and lead to further innovation in horticulture.
Specifically, the Joint Action Plan initiatives will benefit Canada’s Horticultural industry by:
- Developing comparable approaches to financial risk mitigation tools to protect Canada and U.S. fruit and vegetable suppliers from buyers who default on their payment obligations.
- Focusing Canadian and U.S. efforts on enhanced collaboration in food safety and activities to allow for assessment and possible recognition of system comparability.
- Allowing greater access for producers to tools available to manage production problems by further aligning crop protection product (e.g., pesticides) approvals and establishment of maximum pesticide residue limits/tolerances.
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Developing a perimeter approach to plant protection with a view to leverage each country's efforts to mutual advantage and, where possible, streamline certification requirements for cross-border shipments.
“This is a good day and our industry is committed to working with officials to ensure successful implementation of the action initiatives” added Bates.
Detailed backgrounders on the Joint Action Plan for the Canada-United States Regulatory Cooperation Council and the areas of cooperation and what the initiatives will mean are available at
www.borderactionplan.gc.ca