Fertilizer regulations put the onus on farmers

Friday, July 26, 2013

by SUSAN MANN

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is updating its fertilizer regulations and, for farmers, that will mean a move to a more ‘buyer beware’ marketplace, says a spokesman for Grain Farmers of Ontario.

John Cowan, vice-president of strategic development, says the ingredients on fertilizers will still be labelled. But it will come down to “a farmer having a relationship with his supplier and a trust level.”

Farmers need to be aware the government is no longer doing testing analysis of fertilizers and that’s why growers must have a relationship with their supplier, he says. But “if they (farmers) have doubts they need to go ahead on their own and have an analysis done.”

Clyde Graham, vice president of strategy and alliances for the Canadian Fertilizer Institute, says for the major fertilizer products most farmers use, the CFIA’s proposed regulatory modernization proposal won’t lead to significant changes.

He adds the fertilizer industry is committed to providing safe products that work for farmers to grow nutritious crops. But farmers need to careful they’re buying from “reputable companies.”

The institute represents the major fertilizer manufacturers in Canada, along with wholesalers, importers and agri-retailers.

Graham also advised farmers to ask their fertilizer supplier for “the science behind the product, including peer-reviewed literature and field trials. Those are the best evidence of the value of a product,” particularly for novel or fairly new items.

CFIA’s proposed regulatory modernization proposal document is up on the agency’s website at: www.inspection.gc.ca. The agency says in a July 17 notice on the site people can comment on the proposal by email or postal mail. Comments are due by Sept. 17.

CFIA says the modernization of Canada’s fertilizer regulations is part of the agency’s overall modernization strategy. The fertilizer proposal takes a risk-based approach, streamlines regulatory activities, allows greater flexibility and less red tape for regulated parties in addition to expediting time to market for safe fertilizers and supplements, the agency’s notice says.

Graham says the CFIA’s modernization program was developed in consultation with the Canadian Fertilizer Products Forum. The institute is part of that forum along with 100 other stakeholders, such as farm groups and individual fertilizer companies.

The current CFIA proposal is its “take on those discussions,” Graham says, noting in general the institute supports the CFIA’s aims to reduce red tape and expedite the time it takes to register products. But one thing CFIA hasn’t done yet is to allow electronic commerce.

Currently companies can’t apply for fertilizer registrations in Canada electronically “and we think that’s a shame,” he notes. In the United States, electronic fertilizer registration is on a state-by-state basis with some allowing it and some not.

The institute will be doing a detailed review of the CFIA’s proposals “against our members needs” and it will be submitting comments when that review is done, he notes.

There are several things in the regulatory package “that are generally positive,” such as the extension in the registration of fertilizers to five years from three years, Graham notes.

The institute supports modernizing the list of Schedule 2 items, which are primary fertilizer materials that are exempt from registration because they’re well known and safe, he adds. But the institute wants to have input into what’s on the updated exemption list.

There are plans to streamline labelling information, which is “important to some of our member companies,” he says.

The institute plans to review the proposed registration fee increases. All fertilizers in Canada are regulated, but from a tonnage basis most fertilizer used in Canada doesn’t require registration. Products, such as inoculants, micronutrients, fertilizers in specialized forms, supplements, and novel items, do require registration. 

What isn’t part of the fertilizer regulation modernization plans and also isn’t part of the current consultations is a change CFIA announced previously. As of April 26 the CFIA is no longer regulating the quality and efficacy of products under the Fertilizers Act.

Graham says CFIA will now focus almost exclusively on the safety of products. The institute wasn’t in favour of the government’s decision to cease regulating efficacy. But “we’re working to develop voluntary guidelines for fertilizer quality and definitions to help our members provide quality products.” The guidelines will also help companies provide information for agricultural retailers and farmers so they can understand what’s in a quality product and how to identify that, which “we think will be important because of these changes.” BF