HALIFAX – Farmers often think of canola as the grain industry’s free market flip side of the much more heavily regulated wheat and barley sectors.
But canola is still hamstrung by damaging regulations on its processed products, said Pat Van Osch of canola crusher Canbra Foods.
Van Osch told the Canola Council of Canada’s annual convention that regulatory problems are stripping much value out of the industry.
In Quebec canola margarine is still prevented from being butter-coloured. As well, some provinces restrict the sale of canola oil-butter blended products.
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Federal regulations restrict the adding of minerals and vitamins to oil products, even though it is common pratice in the United States.
And canola products can make only limited nutritional claims on their packages.
“These regulations discourage innovation and product development that would increase consumer choice and help consumers develop improved nutritional diets,” said Van Osch.
The situation is also troubling in world markets, where canola is often at a disadvantage to other oils, such as soybean oil because of unequal tariff rates. If canola shipments have to pay higher tariffs, they will cost more and be less attractive.
Van Osch said there are some promising signs of regulatory improvement within Canada.
A decision on the dispute over Quebec’s restrictions on canola colouring is expected soon, so that conflict may be resolved.
The new Canada Food Guide has increased awareness of the benefits of low-saturated fat oils. New food labelling rules that will be applied in December also make obvious canola’s beneficial fat profile.
And the continuing bad press about “trans fats” should continue to encourage consumers to think more about canola, Van Osch said.
