News from AAFC Market Access Secretariat

The purpose of this message is to remind Canadian industry to follow precisely the 2013 chart agreed to by Canada and Mexico for export certificates and labelling of meat products exported to Mexico. The chart is available to the public via the following CFIA website: https://inspection.canada.ca/exporting-food-plants-or-animals/food-exports/requirements/mexico-meat-and-poultry/annex-k/eng/1394572008303/1394572085164

The Canadian Embassy to Mexico recently met with SENASICA (CFIA counterpart in Mexico) to clarify issues for Mexican requirements related to various production dates for shipping chilled and frozen raw meat to Mexico.

SENASICA indicated that the difficulties with the shipments have been “technical” in nature and most have been related to how the mandatory dates that Mexico requires (slaughter date, processing date and packing date) are presented on the CFIA export certificates and product labels.

SENASICA confirmed that if the packaging date on a product label is not within the processing date range stated on the export health certificate, this is not a valid reason to reject the shipment.

Another recurring issue is that exporters have been including additional information on the product labels that is not required by Mexico. This has led to confusion at the time of inspection. Please revisit Mexican labeling requirements NOM-030-ZOO-1995, specifically paragraph 4.7 about what exactly must be included on a product label (only available in Spanish): https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/563485/NOM-030-ZOO-1995_170496.pdf

SENASICA advised that if the customs brokers have any questions related to shipments, the best way to avoid misunderstandings at the Mexican points of entry is for them to contact and present their shipping documents directly to the Heads of the SENASICA inspection offices (OISAs), rather than consulting with other people who may provide misleading information. The contact information for the Heads of the OISAs is below:

OISA Nuevo Laredo, Tamps.
Ing. Eleuterio Domínguez Sedeño
Responsable de OISA
Teléfono  55 59 05 10 00 extensiones  52100, 52101, 52102.
867 712 01 67
Correo electrónico: oisanuevolaredo@senasica.gob.mx

OISA Reynosa, Tamps.
Ing. Oscar Toledo Reyes
Jefe de la  OISA
Teléfono 55 59 05 10 00 extensiones 52150, 52151
899 921 1905
Correo electrónico: oisareynosa@senasica.gob.mx

News from AAFC Market Access Secretariat

On February 22, 2022, France published a decree banning imports of meat treated with antimicrobial growth promoters prohibited in the EU since Jan 1, 2006. This new rule will be fully enforced on April 22, 2022, and will be in place for a period of one year. The move from France follows the recent entry into force of the EU Veterinary Medicinal Products (VMP) Regulation on January 28, 2022. Please note, implementation of the VMP by the EU is delayed, as per other communications by the Market Access Secretariat on this subject.

AAFC and CFIA are working with mission staff at the Canadian Embassy in France to obtain clarifications on the requirements, scope and transition period under the French Decree. While we are waiting on further information from the French authorities, we have received a copy of the model attestation which will be required (below in French).  It indicates that the exporter must attest that the meat products are derived from animals which have not been subjected to antibiotic drug treatment for the purposes of growth promotion. Additionally, France has indicated that this would be apply to meat and meat products as per the EU definition in Regulation 853/2004:

Annex I

‘Meat’ means edible parts of the animals referred to in points 1.2 to 1.8, including blood.

‘Meat products’ means processed products resulting from the processing of meat or from the further processing of such processed products, so that the cut surface shows that the product no longer has the characteristics of fresh meat.

The Market Access Secretariat will share more information with stakeholders, federal colleagues and provincial and territorial governments as it becomes available. For now, if you have any specific questions or would like to discuss further please do not hesitate to get in touch with us at aafc.mas-sam.aac@agr.gc.ca.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued new test results that are part of their work to better understand and reduce potential exposure to PFAS from foods. They also shared an update on the progress of the voluntary market phase-out of certain short-chain PFAS used in food packaging.

Research

• Total Diet Study Results

Results from the FDA’s most recent survey of the general food supply show that 89 of 92 food samples had no detectable levels of PFAS. Three seafood samples—tilapia, cod, and shrimp—had detectable levels of PFAS. The food samples analyzed were collected for the FY2021 regional collection of the Total Diet Study (TDS) and are the fifth set of general food supply testing done by the FDA. To date, there have been 10 samples with detectable PFAS out of 532 TDS samples the FDA has tested since 2019. Based on the best available current science, the FDA has no scientific evidence that the levels of PFAS found in the TDS samples tested to date indicate a need to avoid any particular food.

While the FDA found detectable levels of PFAS in certain seafood samples in this TDS survey, as in previous ones, the sample sizes are limited, and the results cannot be used to draw definitive conclusions about the levels of PFAS in seafood in the general food supply. The FDA’s previously announced targeted survey of commonly consumed seafood in the US is on-going and the results, expected later this year, will help the agency better understand the occurrence of PFAS in seafood and inform if additional sampling is needed.

• Analytical Method Extension

For this latest testing of food samples, FDA scientists extended their current analytical method from 16 to 20 types of PFAS. The additional four PFAS compounds have been reported in the literature predominantly in fish samples. This work builds on previous updates of the FDA’s analytical method and is part of our overall work to advance the science of testing for PFAS in foods. The extension to the method will be made available later this year.

• Market Phase-Out of Certain Short-Chain PFAS

In 2020, manufacturers of food contact substances containing short-chain PFAS with 6:2 fluorotelomer alcohol (6:2 FTOH) committed to a 3-year market phase-out of their sales of these substances to begin in 2021. The agreements followed the FDA’s post-market scientific review and analysis of data raising potential safety concerns.

The manufacturers also committed to providing the FDA with annual updates, the first of which would be submitted by January 31, 2022. They have received updates from each of the three companies and have posted them on their Authorized Uses of PFAS in Food Contact Applications webpage, within the Market Phase-Out of Certain Short-Chain PFAS section.

News from AAFC Market Access Secretariat

This post is to inform you that the European Commission (DG AGRI) has launched a “call for evidence” process to solicit input towards a planned report to the European Parliament and Council on Imports of agricultural and food products – applying EU health and environmental standards.

The objective of the report is to contribute to a debate on the application to imports of certain production standards.  The report is not expected to announce any new initiatives or political commitments but ​will inform future agriculture and food trade policy in the context of the Farm to Fork Strategy (F2F) and the EU Trade Policy Review.  While the report will focus primarily on environmental and health regulations, the scope will be broad and may include themes such as animal welfare standards and Production and Processing Methods (PPMs), the impact of agricultural production on deforestation, and/or pesticide maximum residue levels (MRLs)​.

Please use the link below to obtain further information on this initiative​. The same link will also direct you to the public consultation forum where you will be able to directly share your general views on the matter and inform the Commission of your respective positions.

https://ec.europa.eu/info/law/better-regulation/have-your-say/initiatives/13371-Imports-of-agricultural-and-food-products-applying-EU-health-and-environmental-standards-report-_en

To ensure they understand the opinion of Canadian industry, you are invited to send comments and/or concerns by February 28th, 2022, to the Market Access Secretariat at aafc.mas-sam.aac@agr.gc.ca.

While the Business Credit Availability Program (BCAP) officially ended on December 31st 2021, Accord Financial and Export Development Canada (EDC) understand that there are still challenges brought on by the pandemic such as supply chain issues, labor shortages and, most recently, high inflation. “Normal” still seems out of sight.

As a result, Accord is continuing to partner with EDC to offer solutions to help Canadian exporters access the financing they need to manage through the current uncertainties in the business environment and get back on track for growth.

Accessible through Accord, the EDC Trade Recovery Guarantee (TRG) program provides qualifying businesses with access to up to $6.25 million in additional working capital. Customized to the needs of the client, working capital is available through operating lines of credit or term loan facilities. EDC will provide a guarantee to Accord for 80% of the value of the loan. By sharing risk with EDC, we can simplify access to the financing businesses need.

TRG Benefits

• Qualified applicants can access to up to $6.25 million.
• Streamlined process available for smaller businesses requiring up to $1 million
• Facilities may be used for working capital and the acquisition of capital assets
• Program runs through to December 31st 2022
• Credit facilities available for terms up to 60 months
• The 1.8% EDC Guarantee fee can be deferred for 6 months.
• No EDC Set up fees.

To Qualify

• Borrower must qualify as either a direct, indirect, or future exporter. See EDC exporter criteria here. Borrowers need not be direct exporters – businesses that form an integral part of the supply chain of a direct exporter may also qualify.
• Must be a Canadian Corporation.
• Proceeds from the TRG-supported loan cannot be used to repay, refinance, or make an unscheduled reduction in an existing credit facility. However, proceeds may be used to make regularly scheduled lease or loan payments on existing credit facilities.

To Apply

For more details on how to become an Accord Financial client, companies are invited to email financingcanada@accordfinancial.com or call +1 800.967.0015.

About Accord

Accord Financial provides asset-based lending, equipment financing and factoring solutions to small and medium sized businesses seeking financing to fuel their growth. Their solutions range up to $20M across a number of sectors including: manufacturing, distribution, transportation, services, food and beverages, and many more throughout Canada and the US. With leading-edge technology and quick turnaround, our experienced management team brings value to every transaction.