Simplifying import of flower bulbs into Canada
Pre-shipment inspection means that Canadian import inspections on flower bulb shipments can be completed in the country of export instead of waiting until the materials arrive in Canada.
This way, any bulbs not meeting Canadian import requirements can be replaced immediately before a shipment leaves for Canada, saving Canadian bulb growers and international bulb exporters’ time and money while still respecting Canada’s strict import regulations.
Development of pre-shipment inspection programs is not a simple process, however. Through a project supported by Growing Forward 2 (GF2), Flowers Canada (Ontario) examined all countries exporting bulbs to Canada, identified Chile and New Zealand as priority nations for pre-shipment inspection development, and established the appropriate industry contacts in those countries.
They’ve also found comparable programs already in existence – such as one in place between New Zealand and Japan – that could be used as models for developing Canadian equivalents and have undertaken discussions with exporters.
As a result, bulb exporters in New Zealand and Chile have agreed to work with Canada to set up and financially support a pre-shipment inspection program with Canada’s floral industry.
Next steps include ongoing collaboration with exporters in those countries, as well as working with Canadian government and regulatory officials to explore the feasibility of program establishment, maintenance and negotiation, and identify requirements for program structure.
More information is available from the Agricultural Adaptation Council at www.adaptcouncil.org. Growing Forward 2 is a federal-provincial-territorial initiative. The Agricultural Adaptation Council assists with the delivery of GF2 programming in Ontario.
