Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food

Comité permanent de l'agriculture et de l'agroalimentaire

For immediate release

Ottawa, May 09, 2017 -

The Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food held a briefing session on 6 April 2017 on India’s recent decision regarding the fumigation of imported pulses, which could result in the loss of this market for the Canadian pulse industry.

The committee heard from representatives of Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) about India’s requirements for pulses to be fumigated with methyl bromide, a substance that depletes the ozone layer and has been banned in Canada since 2005.

In the fall of 2016, the Indian government announced that as of 31 March 2017 India would end this exemption and Canada would have to fumigate cargo prior to shipment to India. The end of this exemption could threaten the Canadian pulse industry because India is Canada’s primary market. Since 2004, Indian regulations have required pulses to be fumigated with methyl bromide in the country of origin to control pests. However, India has granted an exemption to some countries, including Canada, to fumigate pulses on arrival in India instead of at the point of origin. Canada has benefited from a series of six-month exemptions since 2004.

Following discussions between Indian and Canadian officials to find alternatives and show that the Canadian system meets India’s phytosanitary standards, the Indian government agreed to grant a new exemption until 30 June 2017. William Anderson, Executive Director of the CFIA’s Plant Health and Biosecurity Directorate said, “This is good progress, but work continues. The CFIA is committed to establishing a long-term solution to India’s fumigation requirement.”

The committee encourages the government to conclude the work on a long-term solution to meet India's phytosanitary requirements. The committee looks forward to the timely establishment of a permanent framework for lentil fumigation.

The committee’s proceedings on this issue are available at: http://www.parl.gc.ca/HousePublications/Publication.aspx?Language=e&Mode=1&Parl=42&Ses=1&DocId=8872981#Int-9466134.