G/TBT/N/CAN/657  
14 December 2021  
(21-9341) Page: 1/4 
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 
Email: 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):  Apples, 
fresh (HS 080810400100); apples, fresh, organic (080810400000); apricots, fresh (HS 
080910402000); apricots, fresh, organic (HS 080910402002); asparagus, fresh (HS 
070920000000); asparagus, fresh, organic (HS 0709200002 00); grapes, fresh (HS 
080610000000); grapes, fresh, organic (HS 080610405000); peaches, fresh (HS 
080930000000); pears, fresh (HS 080830400300); pears, fresh, organic (HS 
080830400400); plums, fresh (HS 080940400700); plums, fresh, organic (HS 
08094040070 2); nectarine, fresh (HS 080930400600); nectarine, fresh, organic (HS 
080930400602); Fresh or chilled asparagus (HS 070920); Fresh grapes (HS 080610); 
Fresh apples (HS 080810); Fresh pears (HS 080830); Fresh apricots (HS 080910); Fresh 
peaches, incl. necta rines (HS 080930); Fresh plums and sloes (HS 080940)  
5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document:  Proposed 
Amendment to the Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume 2 - Fresh Fruit or Vegetables. 
- Standard for apples (9 and 11 pages, avai lable in English and French); - Standard for 
apricots (3 pages, available in English and French); - Standard for asparagus (2 pages, 
available in English and French); - Standard for grapes (2 pages, available in English and 
French); - Standard for peaches (2 pages, available in English and French); - Standard 
for pears (5 pages, available in English and French); - Standard for plums and prunes (4 
and 3 pages, available in English and French); and - Standard for nectarines (2 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 interprovincial trade in Canada. FFV grades and requirements 
are maintained and enforced by  Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CF IA) in an G/TBT/N/CAN/657  
 
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  incorporated by reference (IbR) document titled "Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume 
2 - Fresh Fruit or Vegetables", incorporated into 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 grade standards to certain commodities. This 
consultation is being conducted in phases to solicit feedback on propos ed 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.  
This phase focuses on the proposed changes to grades and requirements for apples, 
apricots, asparagus, grapes, peaches, pears, plums and prunes, including a new standard 
for nectarines. The Proposed Amendment to the Canadian Grade Compendium: Volume 
2 - Fresh Fruit or Vegetables include:  
• changes to size requirements ; 
• clarificati ons to terminology for defects and tolerances ; and 
• the introduction of new standard for nectarines.  
7. Objective and rationale, including the nature of urgent problems where 
applicable:  Existing grades and requirements are outlined in the current ''Canadi an 
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 grade 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 terminolo gy for defects and tolerances, and the introduction of new 
standards for certain commodities.  
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)  
Phase 2: proposed changes to grades and requirements for apples, apricots, asparagus, 
grapes, peaches, pears, plums and prunes, including a new standard for nectarines  
https://inspection.canada.ca/about -cfia/transparency/consultations -and-
engagement/ffv/phase -2/eng/1638986038379/1638986039223  (English)  
https://inspection.canada.ca/a -propos -de-l-acia/transparence/consultations -et-
participation/flf/fra/1638986038379/1638986039223  (French)  
Note: Phase 1 was notified under G/TBT/N/CAN/654.  
9. Proposed date of adoption:  To be determined  
Proposed date of entry into force:  To be determined . The proposed changes will 
come into effect 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 transitio n period, the previous requirements will cease 
to apply and all regulated parties must comply with the new requirements.  
10. Final date for comments:  11 February 2022  G/TBT/N/CAN/657  
 
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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 apples  
https://inspection.canada.ca/about -cfia/transparency/consultations -and-
engagement/ffv/phase -1/proposed -changes -to-grades -and-requirements -for-
ap/eng/1638987888530/1638987889295  (English)  
https://inspection.canada.ca/a -propos -de-l-acia/transparence/consultations -et-
participation/flf/etape -1/fra/1638987888530/1638987889295  (French)  
 
- Standard for apricots  
https://inspection.canada.ca/about -cfia/transparency/consultations -and-
engagement/ffv/phase -2/proposed -changes -to-grades -and-requirements -for-
ap/eng/1638992932173/1638992932501  (English)  
https://inspection.canada.ca/a -propos -de-l-acia/transparenc e/consultations -et-
participation/flf/etape -2/modifications -proposees -aux-categories -et-
exigence/fra/1638992932173/1638992932501  (French)  
 
- Standard for asparagus  
https://inspection.canada.ca/about -cfia/transparency/consultations -and-
engagement/ffv/phase -2/proposed -changes -to-grades -and-requirements -for-
as/eng/163899 3887247/1638993887622  (English)  
https://inspection.c anada.ca/a -propos -de-l-acia/transparence/consultations -et-
participation/flf/etape -2/modifications -proposees -aux-categories -et-
exigence/fra/1638993887247/1638993887622  (French)  
 
- Standard for grapes  
https://inspection.canada.ca/about -cfia/transparency/consultations -and-
engagement/ffv/phase -2/proposed -changes -to-grade s-and-requirements -for-
gr/eng/1638995433899/1638995434274  (English)  
https://inspection.canada.ca/a -propos -de-l-acia/transparence/consultations -et-
participation/flf/etape -2/modifications -proposees -aux-categories -et-
exigence/fra/1638995433899/1638995434274  (French)  
 
- Standard for peaches  
https://inspection.canada.ca/about -cfia/transparency/consultations -and-
engagement/ ffv/phase -2/proposed -changes -to-grades -and-requirements -for-
pe/eng/1638997741913/1638997742257  (English)  
https://inspection.canada.ca/a -propos -de-l-acia/transparence/consultations -et-
participation/flf/etape -2/modifications -proposees -aux-categories -et-
exigence/fra/1638997741913/1638997742257  (French)  
 
- Standard for pears  
https://inspection.canada.ca/about -cfia/tran sparency/consultations -and-
engagement/ffv/phase -2/proposed -changes -to-grades -and-requirements -for-
pe/eng/1638998874155/1638998874429  (English)  
https://inspection.canada.ca/a -propos -de-l-acia/transparence/consultations -et-
participation/flf/etape -2/modifications -proposees -aux-categories -et-
exigence/fra/163899 8874155/1638998874429  (French)  
 
- Standard for plums and prunes  
https://inspection.canada.ca/about -cfia/transparency/consultations -and-
engagement/ffv/phase -2/proposed -changes -to-grades -and-requirements -for-
pl/eng/1638999540089/1638999540390  (English)  
https://inspection.canada.ca/a -propos -de-l-acia/transparence/consultations -et-
participation/flf/etape -2/modifications -proposees -aux-categories -et-
exigence/fra/1638999540089/1638999540390  (French)  
 
- Standard for nectarines  
https://inspection.canada.ca/about -cfia/transparency/consultations -and-
engagement/ffv/phase -2/proposed -changes -to-grades -and-requirements -for-G/TBT/N/CAN/657  
 
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  ne/eng/1638999977874/1638999978202  (English)  
https://inspection.canada.ca/a -propos -de-l-acia/transparence/consultations -et-
participation/flf/etape -2/fra/1638999977874/163899997 8202 (French)