Specialty foods have different regulatory needs from mainstream products: report

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

by DAVE PINK

Canada’s specialty food industry needs a little more understanding from government, according to a just-released report commissioned by Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and prepared by the Value Chain Management Centre.

“The major response from those in the industry is that government is more of an obstacle than a service provider,” says Martin Gooch, a director with the Value Chain Management Centre.

Gooch says specialty items exist in all food sectors, but are just a little bit different than mainstream products. They could be items that appeal only to ethnic shoppers, or products that cater to the needs of those with allergies or those on doctor-stipulated diets.

“There is a need to provide a more objective and informed platform for government and industry to develop a more effective specialty food system,” he says. “This is about how we can enable innovation to respond to consumer demand.

“Most of the regulations now in effect are not designed for specialty foods, but for mainstream commodities,” adds Gooch.

“This is not at all about reducing food safety standards,” he says. It’s about bringing Canadian standards in line with internationally accepted standards to more easily accommodate importers.

The industry is also asking for more government support with its market intelligence and consumer research.

“With immigration and changing diets there are so many factors that are driving change in the food industry,” says Gooch. BF