Today, we received a request for comments pertaining to the Fall 2021 Import requirements for Romaine lettuce from the Salinas Valley.
Please see the following request for input in regards to the draft CFIA Form “Importer Attestation for Fresh Romaine Lettuce Products from the Salinas Valley, California, USA”. The form is found at the end of the quoted message.
The CFIA has requested to receive any comments you may have regarding the draft form by Friday, September 3rd.
Please send your comments to: compliance@pcb.ca ; Attention: Gloria Terhaar ; Subject: “Romaine Import Form Comments” by noon on September 3rd. She will compile your feedback and submit your comments by the deadline.
“There are new developments regarding the Canadian import requirements for romaine lettuce originating from California’s Salinas Valley in the fall.
The CFIA has made the determination that the pre-harvest sampling and testing approach developed by Western Growers and the California Leafy Green Marketing Agreement (LGMA) will be an acceptable option, with some specificity for Canada, to comply with the upcoming temporary Safe Food For Canadians license conditions for this fall. This new option is in addition to the post-processing/post-handling sampling option that was already available last year, and has been made possible thanks to the close collaboration and continuous engagement between the CFIA, US and California Governments (US FDA, California Department of Food and Agriculture) and industry stakeholders. The CFIA will soon publish an official communication to its stakeholders with the final details of the license conditions.
The attestation form will be an electronic fillable pdf that importers will complete, sign and submit via CBSA's Integrated Import Declaration (IID) system during the import declaration process.
Please note that there is a “link to be added” placeholder in the form which will be used to link to Western Growers’ “Appendix C: Pre-harvest Product Sampling and Testing Protocol” once it is published.
Here is the attestation form in English and in French.”
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact Gloria Terhaar at compliance@pcb.ca or by calling 604-538-1566. We are here for you always.
