Dear CSCA Members,
Please find the following updates from the Government of Canada’s Market Access Secretariat regarding China and Vietnam:
China:
“China’s General Administration of Customs (GACC) suspended the registration of two Canadian companies and their ability to export Canadian canola seed to China based on alleged detection of pests of quarantine concern. Canadian officials are fully engaged with Chinese counterparts to restore access for the suspended companies as quickly as possible and to resume predictability of trade in canola seed. Please note that all shipments of Canadian canola seed continue to be under heightened inspection and quarantine as per a notice published by GACC on March 7, 2019.
The current actions taken by GACC are limited to canola seed, and while there have been media reports on trade disruptions covering a broad range of Canadian agricultural products to China, we have not received any indication to that effect. We continue to encourage Canadian companies to continue to report to us any changes to commercial activities of an unusual nature. We are committed to informing the industry of any changes in China’s customs procedures and export approvals, should we learn of any new developments.
DISCLAIMER: The current trade situation remains fluid and subject to sudden change. It is the responsibility of individual companies to make informed business decisions at the time of export.”
Vietnam:
“On March 21, 2019, Vietnam’s Plant Protection Department (PPD) notified the Canadian government of non-compliance (NNC) in Canadian wheat and soybean consignments to Vietnam due to the presence of creeping thistle (Cirsium arvense). Despite Vietnam’s intent to implement more restrictive import measures on crops testing positive for creeping thistle beginning January 1, 2019, Vietnamese authorities allowed entry of the Canadian shipments under close supervision.
The Government of Canada has been informed that future detections could still lead to rejections and potential trade suspension on Canadian crops, should the level of detections not improve. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency will notify individual exporters affected by these notices of non-compliance.
The Government of Canada would like to remind exporters of the importance of preparing export shipments of cereals, pulses and soybeans that comply with Vietnam’s phytosanitary import regulations.”
CSCA members are asked to inform Pulse Canada of any market access-related challenges experienced with export to either China or Vietnam.
Updates will continue to be provided to CSCA members as these matters evolve.