Import Policy for Fresh Guatemalan Raspberries and Blackberries

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Table of Contents

Review
Endorsement
Amendment Record
Distribution
Introduction
Scope of the Policy
Definitions
Legislative Authority
Import Policy
Enforcement Policy
1. Canada Border Services Agency
2. Import Service Centre
3. Inspection Office
Blackberries Varieties Comparison

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Review

This Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) enforcement policy has been developed based on Health Canada's Qualitative Risk Assessment and Management Options and based on the advice of the Health Canada's Bureau of Microbial Hazards. The CFIA's enforcement policy has been circulated to all program network specialists for their comments.

Endorsement

Approved by:

National Manager
Fresh Products Section

Amendment Record

This enforcement policy replaces the CFIA's Import Policy for the Spring Crop of Guatemalan Fresh Raspberries and Blackberries and the December 6, 1999 Memorandum to the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Specialists on the Import Policy for the (1999) Fall Crop of the Guatemalan Fresh Raspberries.

Distribution

• CFIA Area Network Specialists
• CFIA field staffs, including CFIA Import Service Centre
• Health Canada (HC), Bureau of Microbial Hazards
• Guatemalan authorities
• Canadian Produce Marketing Association

Introduction

In September 1998, the CFIA restricted the importation of Guatemalan fresh raspberries in light of the 1998 spring outbreak of Cyclosporiasis in Ontario and the epidemiological link to Guatemalan fresh raspberries. In the spring of 1999, another cyclosporiasis outbreak occurred in Ontario. This outbreak was epidemiologically linked to Guatemalan fresh blackberries. On April 4, 2000, Health Canada (HC) asked CFIA to restrict the importation of Guatemalan fresh blackberries into Canada.

On December 6, 1999, the CFIA allowed the importation of Guatemalan fresh raspberries and blackberries grown in the 1999 fall season and which had been produced, harvested, packed and shipped under the Guatemalan Model Plan of Excellence. On March 15, 2000 and April 4, 2000, the CFIA introduced an import restriction on the Guatemalan fresh raspberries and blackberries respectively.

In December 2000, HC recommended the importation of Guatemalan cultivated fresh raspberries and blackberries into Canada for a period corresponding to August 15 to March 14 of each year. This decision was based on the HC Qualitative Risk Assessment and Management Options and on the fact that no Cyclosporiasis outbreaks have been reported during that period of time in Canada, United States (U.S.) or other countries.

Scope of the Policy

The following enforcement policy is applicable to all fresh raspberries and blackberries imported from Guatemala.

Definitions

"Contaminated" in respect of produce, means containing a chemical, drug, food additive, heavy metal, industrial pollutant, ingredient, medicine, microbe, pesticide, poison, toxin, or any other substance not permitted by, or in an amount in excess of limits prescribed under, the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, the Food and Drugs Act or the Pest Control Products Act.

"Cyclospora" is a water-borne microscopic parasite that causes acute gastrointestinal problems, but is not considered a serious risk to healthy people. Cyclosporiasis is the name for the infection caused by Cyclospora, causes diarrhea, fatigue, abdominal pain, and loss of appetite and can last from a few days to a month or more.

Guatemala produces two crops of raspberries and blackberries per year: one crop in the spring with the peak exporting season running from April to June and the second crop in the fall with their peak exporting season in November and December.

Wild blackberries are characterized by their smaller size. Cultivated blackberries are normally more than 3 cm long and around 2.5 cm or more in diameter. Wild blackberries are less than 3 cm long and less than 2 cm in diameter. Pictures showing the differences between wild and cultivated blackberries are included at the end of the policy.

Legislative Authority

Section 3.1 (1) (b) of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Regulations and Section 4 of the Food and Drugs Act.

Section 3.1 (1) (b) of the Fresh Fruit and Vegetables Regulations states:

"Subject to subsection (2), no person shall market in import, export or interprovincial trade as food unless it is not contaminated."

Section 4 of the Food and Drugs Act states:

No person shall sell an article of food that

1. has in or on it any poisonous or harmful substance;
2. is unfit for human consumption;
3. consists in whole or in part of any filthy, putrid, disgusting, rotten, decomposed or diseased animal or vegetable substance;
4. is adulterated; or
5. was manufactured, prepared, preserved, packaged or stored under unsanitary conditions."

Import Policy

1. Wild fresh raspberries and blackberries

   The harvesting and packing of fresh wild blackberries has not been evaluated by the Canadian Government, therefore, no fresh wild blackberries can be allowed entry into Canada. There are no wild raspberries grown in Guatemala.

2. Cultivated fresh raspberries and blackberries imported from August 15 to March 14 of each year.

   Upon the satisfactory completion of various compliance verifications, the CFIA will permit the importation into Canada of cultivated Guatemalan fresh raspberries and blackberries. No cyclosporiasis outbreaks have been reported during that time period in Canada, United States or other countries.

3. Cultivated fresh raspberries and blackberries imported from March 15 to August 14 of each year.

   An import restriction is reintroduced on Guatemalan fresh raspberries and blackberries for a period corresponding to March 15 to August 14 of each year. This period of time corresponds to a high risk period where Guatemalan fresh raspberries and blackberries could be contaminated by Cyclospora.

   HC and CFIA are still working collaboratively with the Guatemalan authorities and the United States Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) to evaluate the risk of contamination of Guatemalan fresh raspberries and blackberries during that time period.

Enforcement of the Import Policy

1. Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

1. August 15 to March 14 of each year

   The CFIA has requested CBSA to initiate an import alert on all Guatemalan fresh raspberries and blackberries.

   The CFIA has requested CBSA to send to the Import Service Centres (ISC) all shipping documents including copies of the Confirmation of Sale (COS) and invoices, and the information on the destination of the shipment.

2. March 15 to August 14 of each year

   The CFIA will request CBSA to initiate an import alert on all Guatemalan fresh raspberries and blackberries.

   CBSA will advise the ISC that a shipment of Guatemalan fresh raspberries and/or blackberries is at the Canadian border.

   Upon request by the ISC, CBSA will send a copy of all shipping documents on Guatemalan fresh raspberries and blackberries including copies of the Confirmation of Sale (COS) and invoices, and the information on the destination of the shipment.

2. Import Service Centre

1. August 15 to March 14 of each year

   The ISC will verify the shipping document to ensure that they are in compliance with our Canadian import requirements.

   If the shipping document indicates that the fresh blackberries are wild berries, the ISC will advise CBSA to refuse the entry of the shipment. The ISC will advise the inspection office at destination that a shipment of Guatemalan wild blackberries has been denied entry at the Canadian border and relay documents or information to the inspection office by fax or by telephone.

   If the shipping documents are in compliance with the Canadian import requirements, the ISC will permit the entry of the Guatemalan fresh raspberries and blackberries. Then, the ISC will send by fax all shipping documents to the relevant inspection office for further inspection.

2. March 15 to August 14 of each year

   The ISC will verify the shipping documents sent by CBSA.

   If documentation indicates that the fresh raspberries and blackberries are from Guatemala, the ISC will advise CBSA to refuse the entry of the shipment.

   The ISC will advise the inspection office at destination that a shipment of Guatemalan raspberries and/or blackberries has been denied entry at the Canadian border and relay documents or information to the inspection office by fax or by telephone.

3. Inspection Office

1. August 15 to March 14 of each year

   The inspection office should verify on a routine basis (approximately 10% of the shipments) to ensure that the berries are not wild blackberries. Please refer to the definition section to know the difference between wild and cultivated blackberries.

   If Guatemalan wild blackberries are found on the Canadian marketplace, CFIA inspectors must place them under detention and have them removed from Canada or destroyed them. If Guatemalan wild blackberries have already been distributed, recall procedures should immediately be initiated.

2. March 15 to August 14 of each year

   The sale of Guatemalan raspberries and blackberries is not allowed in Canada for that time of the year. Consequently, CFIA inspectors located at destinations markets should verify on a routine basis that Guatemalan raspberries and blackberries have not entered Canada.

   If, for some reason, Guatemalan raspberries and/or blackberries are found on the Canadian marketplace, CFIA inspectors must place them under detention and have them removed from Canada or destroyed them. If Guatemalan raspberries and/or blackberries have already been distributed, recall procedures should immediately be initiated.

Blackberries Varieties Comparison

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