G/TBT/N/CAN/654  
2 November 2021  
(21-8325) Page: 1/3 
Committee on Technical Barriers to Trade  Original:  English /French  
 
  
NOTIFICATION  
The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6  
 
1. Notifying Member:  CANADA   
If applicable, name of local government involved (Article 3.2 and 7.2):   
2. Agency responsible:  Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)  
Name and address (including telephone and fax numbers , email and website 
addresses, if available) of agency or authority designated to handle comments 
regarding the notification shall be indicated if different from above:   
Canada's  Notification Authority and Enquiry Point  
Technical Barriers and Regulations Division  
Global Affairs Canada  
111 Sussex Drive  
Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0G2  
Canada  
Telephone: (343)203 -4273 
Fax: (613)943 -0346 
E-mail: enquirypoint@international.gc.ca   
3. Notified under Article 2.9.2 [X], 2.10.1 [   ], 5.6.2 [   ], 5.7.1 [   ], other :  
4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff 
heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable):  Tomatoes, 
greenhouse, fresh (HS 070200000201); tomatoes, greenhouse, organic (HS 
070200000201); cucumbers, greenhouse, fresh (HS 070700300102); cucumbers, 
greenhouse, organic (HS 070700300112)  
5. Title, number of pages and lan guage(s) of the notified document:  Proposed 
Amendment to the Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume 2 - Fresh Fruit or Vegetables. 
- Standard for greenhouse cucumbers (3 pages, available in English and French); - 
Standard for greenhouse mini cucumbers (2 and 3 pages, available in English and 
French); and - Standard for greenhouse tomatoes (3 pages, available in English and 
French).  
6. Description of content:  Certain fresh fruit or vegetables (FFV) must be graded in order 
to be marketed in import or interprovinc ial trade in Canada. FFV grades and requirements 
are maintained and enforced by Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)  in an 
incorporated by reference (IbR) document titled "Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume 
2 – Fresh Fruit or Vegetables", incorporated int o the  Safe Food for Canadians 
Regulations  (SFCR).  
CFIA is proposing to modernize and harmonize existing grade requirements related to the 
quality of FFV and introduce new gr ade standards to certain commodities. This 
consultation is being conducted in phases to solicit feedback on proposed changes to the 
grades and requirements for FFV. Each phase will focus on a different group of 
commodities. A notification will be sent for each phase of the consultation.  G/TBT/N/CAN/654  
 
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  This phase focuses on the proposed changes to grades and requirements for greenhouse 
cucumbers and greenhouse tomatoes, including a new standard for greenhouse mini 
cucumbers. The Proposed Amendment to the Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume 2 - 
Fresh Fruit or Vegetables include   
• changes to size requirements,   
• clarifications to terminology for defects and tolerances, and  
• the introduction of new standard for greenhouse mini cucumbers.  
7. Objective and rationale, inclu ding the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Existing grades and requirements are outlined in the current "Canadian 
Grade Compendium: Volume 2 – Fresh Fruit or Vegetables'' incorporated by reference 
into the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations . The objective of the proposed changes is 
to reflect market needs:    
• changes in consumer demand and demographics;  
• developments in technology and innovation, including but not limited to plant 
and variety breeding;  
• improved and innovative production practices, storage and packing 
technologies;  
• harmonization of standards with international trading partners, and  
• new gr ade standards where there are none existing and for which industry 
consensus has been achieved.  
In response to these market needs, the proposed changes include new size requirements, 
clarifications to terminology for defects and tolerances, and the introdu ction of new 
standards for certain commodities.; Other  
8. Relevant documents:   
Proposed changes to the Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume 2 - Fresh Fruit or 
Vegetables:  
https://inspection.canada.ca/eng/1635177704225/1635177997772  (English)  
https://inspection.canada.ca/fra/1635177704225/1635177997772  (French)  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined  
 
The proposed changes will come into effec t immediately upon final publication, with a 
proposed 6 -month transition period, during which time regulated parties may comply 
with either the previous or new requirements.  
Following the proposed 6 -month transition period, the previous requirements will cease 
to apply and all regulated parties must comply with the new requirements.  
10. Final date for comments:  31 December 2021  G/TBT/N/CAN/654  
 
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  11. Texts available from:  National enquiry point [X] or address, telephone and fax 
numbers and email and website addresses, if available , of other body:   
The electronic version of the regulatory texts can be found at:  
 
- Standard for greenhouse cucumbers  
https://inspection.canada.ca/about -cfia/transparency/consultation s-and-
engagement/ffv/phase -1/proposed -changes -to-grades -and-requirements -for-
gr/eng/1635179484632/1635179663958  (English)  
https://inspection.canada.ca/a -propos -de-l-acia/transparence/consultations -et-
participation/flf/etape -1/modifications -proposees -aux-categories -et-
exigence/fra/1635179484632/1635179663958  (French)  
 
- Standard for greenhouse mini cucumbers  
https://i nspection.canada.ca/about -cfia/transparency/consultations -and-
engagement/ffv/phase -1/new -grades -and-requirements -for-greenhouse -mini-
cu/eng/1635179879672/1635179973974  (English)  
https://inspection.canada.ca/a -propos -de-l-acia/transparence/consultations -et-
participation/flf/etape -1/nouvelles -categories -et-exigences -pour-les-mini-
co/fra/1635179879672/1635179973974  (French)  
 
- Standard for greenhouse tomatoes  
https://inspection.canada.ca/about -cfia/transparency/consultations -and-
engagement/ffv/phase -1/proposed -changes -to-grades -and-requirements -for-
gr/eng/1635180369001/1635180500820  (English)  
https://inspection.canada.ca/a -propos -de-l-acia/transparence/consultations -et-
participation/flf/etape -1/modifications -proposees -aux-categories -et-
exigence/fra/1635180369001/1635180500820  (French)