Canadian food exporters, already facing beefed up inspection at the
crucial United States border, fear more border congestion and delay
will develop if bio-terrorism legislation approved by the U.S.
Congress, takes effect.
“I think if this unfolds as it looks now, it will be a real crisis for
exporters,” said Patrick Clair, customs compliance co-ordinator for
Maple Leaf Foods Inc. of Toronto.
There is agreement from Ron Doering, former president of the Canadian
Food Inspection Agency and now an Ottawa consultant on food law and
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“Unless there is some change of American plan or some exemption for
Canada, this could pose a significant problem for food exporters,” he
said from his Ottawa office.
The threat is the U.S. Bio-terrorism Food Security bill, passed June 12
by Congress and requiring new border security rules within 18 months of
its passage.
The law would force companies exporting to the U.S. to register with
the Food and Drug Administration and then give prior notice to border
customs staff and inspectors of each shipment. There would be increased
inspection at the border.
“This would be a real nightmare for us getting supplies to our
customers on a just-in-time basis, and also increase the likelihood of
perishable products sitting at the border,” said Clair.
Maple Leaf sends up to 100 trucks south each day “and we’re far from
the largest shipper, but it would be a huge headache for us.”
Last spring when the legislation was being debated in Washington, an
angry agriculture minister Lyle Vanclief said he warned that Canada
could retaliate if onerous new border controls were imposed.
“What I was saying to the deputy secretary of health was since we have
virtual equivalence on food safety between our two countries, why would
we need another 9,000 or 10,000 pieces of paper a day to say we are
going to be at the Detroit border at 12:05 tomorrow with a truckload of
food products?”
But despite the threat and protests, food industry officials say there
has been no indication from Washington that Canada will win any
reprieve or exemption.
“The ideal scenario would be to push the border to the perimeter of
North America for the purposes of this bill,” said Chris Kyte,
president of Food Processors of Canada. “I have not heard that talks
are on about that, or that there would be any chance.”
He said industry fears U.S. authorities will use increased staff and
tougher border inspection rules to play some protectionist games to
keep out competitive product.
“What happens if they start playing politics using these new powers of
delay and inspection?” Kyte said. “That would be a disaster and there
is a real potential.”
