IN THIS ISSUE
	Council Business (Decisions)		Council Business (Activities)		Department News
	Industry News		International News		Did you Know?
	Upcoming Meetings		Quote of the Month

New Appointment at NFPC

On August 18, 2008, Federal Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced the appointment of John Griffin as a member of the National Farm Products Council for a term of four years.

"This Government is dedicated to ensuring the success of the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector," said Minister Ritz. "I am pleased to announce Mr. Griffin's appointment to the Council. His knowledge and experience as an innovative leader in Canadian agri-business will prove invaluable as the Council continues its important work."

John Griffin is President of W.P. Griffin Inc., a family-owned and operated farming business in Elmsdale, Prince Edward Island, a position he’s held since 2000. The company is organized in three divisions: the farming operation, which grows potatoes, grain and hay; the packaging warehouse, which comprises a state-of-the-art potato packaging facility; and the cattle operation, which consists of a beef cattle finishing feedlot.

In addition to his extensive involvement in local community activities, he is also on the Board of the PEI Federation of Agriculture, chairing the organization's On-Farm Food Safety Committee and serving as Vice-Chair of the Canadian On-Farm Food Safety Working Group in Ottawa.

As well, Mr. Griffin was President of the PEI Grain Elevators Corporation from 2001 to 2004, after serving as a Director from 1998 to 2000. Mr. Griffin graduated from Saint Mary's University in Halifax, Nova Scotia, with a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Business Administration and Data Processing in 1987.

Please join NFPC in welcoming Mr. Griffin to our Council.

Council Business (Decisions)

Council Teleconference Call

During its August 7th teleconference call, members and staff dealt with several items on the agenda. During the call the following items were discussed:

Chicken Farmers of Canada
Amendment to Quota Regulation for A-87

Council approved the amendment to the Canadian Chicken Marketing Quota Regulations establishing a domestic quota allocation of 191,489,931 kilograms chicken live weight and establishing the market development quota at 14,026,825 kilograms of chicken live weight for the period beginning September 14, 2008 and ending on November 8, 2008.

Canadian Turkey Marketing Agency

CTMA requested Council’s approval to amend their By-Law No 8 dealing with the payment of expenses and fees to CTMA members for attendance to Agency business. As per Section 25(c) of the Farm Products Agencies Act, Council being satisfied approved the amendment to the mileage rate to be paid to CTMA’s members on duty travel from 46 to 50 cents per kilometer.

CPEPC Complaint 

The NFPC received a complaint from the Canadian Poultry and Egg Processors Council on June 11, 2008 against Chicken Farmers of Canada’s quota allocation decision for A-87. The NFPC is currently reviewing and investigating the complaint.

Council Business (Activities)

2007 NFPC Annual Review

Council is proud to present its 2007 Annual Review. This year’s publication provides its readers with a message from the new Chair, Bill Smirle, biographies of the members, as well as information on the agencies and the state of the industry.

The Annual Review was distributed in mid-July to national agencies, provincial and territorial boards and governments and stakeholders. An electronic version has been added to our website.

For copies please contact Chantal Lafontaine at 613-995-9148 or email at lafontainec@agr.gc.ca. We also welcome your comments and feedback.

Summer Meetings and Visits

Over the summer months, Council members and staff had the opportunity to attend national agencies summer meetings. During some of these visits, our Chair, Bill Smirle, conducted several business meetings with several supervisory boards.

It gave Mr. Smirle the chance to meet his provincial counterparts and to discuss provincial current issues and concerns as well as explore new ways for improving collaboration.

NFPC Fall Strategic Plan Session

As part of the next Council meeting, scheduled for late October, a strategic planning session is being organized to establish the NFPC strategic priorities and direction for the next 3 years (2009-2012).

In the context of current and future trends and issues, this will allow the NFPC to be more proactive in its day-to-day operations and to ensure that the supply management system and the check-off system work in the balanced interest of the producers, processors, consumers and for the industry.

The NFPC will consult its partners throughout this process and, prior to the fall session, would like to receive input from the stakeholders in order to corroborate the proposed plan.

New Federal Lobbyist Act

On July 2, 2008 the Lobbying Act came into force, bringing with it new accountability and transparency rules for lobbyists. Unlike the current Lobbyists Registration Act, the Lobbying Act also includes new obligations for clients of lobbyists and for certain public office holders.

Some major changes include:
* A new Commissioner of Lobbying
* Introduction of the concept of Designated Public Office Holder (DPOH)
* Monthly disclosure by lobbyist of certain details about their lobbying activities
* A five-year post employment prohibition for DPOH on lobbying the GOC
* A ban on any payment and receipt of any benefit that is contingent on the outcome of a consultant lobbyist’s activities
* Doubling of monetary penalties
* Plus a number of changes to the registration process.

For further information please visit the Office of the Commissioner of Lobbying of Canada website: www.ocl-cal.gc.ca. This fall, NFPC will be organizing an information session in order to help stakeholders get better acquainted with the changes and obligations of the Act.

International News

KFC Canada Commits

In early June, KFC Canada agreed to purchase the totality of its chicken supply from suppliers that use controlled-atmosphere killing (CAK). This would make KFC the first major restaurant chain to adopt such policy.

For more than five years, the People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) which is the largest animal rights organization in the world have been lobbying KFC fast-food chains to adopt welfare requirements from chicken supplier. With this commitment, PETA has ended its boycott in Canada. However, it continues in other countries where KFC has restaurants, including the United States.

According to PETA the decision follows months of closed-door negotiations between PETA and KFC Canada. "KFC Canada agreed to a historic new animal welfare plan that will dramatically improve the lives and deaths of millions of chickens killed for KFC Canada", declared a PETA representative.

KFC Canada has formed an animal welfare advisory panel to monitor the changes and recommend further advancements.

Department News

Growing Forward Multilateral Agreement Signed

During its two-day annual meeting in mid-July, Canada’s federal, provincial and territorial Ministers of agriculture signed the multilateral Growing Forward framework.

The $1.3 billion funding agreement is cost-shared on a basis of 60/40 between the federal and the provincial and territorial governments. It represents an increase of $330 million over non-Business Risk Management (BRM) funding that was allocated under the Agricultural Policy Framework. The investment demonstrates the ongoing commitment of federal, provincial and territorial governments to a strong, competitive and profitable agricultural sector.

The new five-year multilateral framework is a significant achievement setting the way for new programs that support the Growing Forward vision of a profitable and innovative agriculture, agri-food and agri-based products industry that seizes opportunities in responding to market demands and contributes to the health and well-being of Canadians.

Ministers credited input from more than 3,000 stakeholders and a strong partnership between federal, provincial and territorial governments as being the driving forces behind the development of Growing Forward. For more information please visit: www.agr.gc.ca

Product of Canada new Rules

Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz announced that the new guidelines for food manufacturers who use the terms "Product of Canada" and "Made in Canada" will apply to foods produced in Canada on January 1, 2009.

"By the end of the year, if a food is labelled "Product of Canada" this government is making sure that food is Canadian inside and out," said Minister Ritz.

This is a result of Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s announcement this past May when he indicated that processed foods sold in Canadian supermarkets will be subjected to stricter labelling regulations. "We want to tighten up the definition so Canadians know what they're getting and get exactly what they want," said Prime Minister Harper.

Under current food labelling rules, foods can be labelled as a product of Canada if 51 per cent of the product is produced in the country. The new proposed guidelines call for a "Product of Canada" label to be allowed only when both the contents and processing of that food are Canadian. It would allow no foreign content except for minor additives or spices that cannot be sourced in Canada.

Meanwhile the new regulation will also allow the use of "Made in Canada" label. It could be applied to food product made or processed in Canada, regardless of whether the ingredients are imported or domestic or both. For more information please visit: www.healthycanadians.ca

GOC Proposed New Labelling Requirements

The Minister of Health Tony Clement, announced in late July the introduction of new labelling requirements for food allergens, gluten sources and added sulphites contained in prepackaged foods.

Health Canada also announced the launch of several allergy studies, including a large national study of food allergy prevalence and two studies on the dietary habits and coping skills of people with celiac disease who are on a gluten-free diet.

"The Government of Canada is taking action to protect the health and well-being of Canadians with food allergies and celiac disease," said Minister Clement. "These new proposed labelling requirements will provide Canadians with the information they need to manage their own allergies, and give parents greater assurance about the food they give their children who may have allergies."

The improved regulations would require that manufacturers declare all food allergens, gluten sources and added sulphites on labels of prepackaged foods. The regulations would also detail exactly how these allergens, glutens and sulphites are to be listed on food labels.

This announcement is another step the Government of Canada has taken to improve and protect the health and well-being of Canadians through strengthened food and product safety standards.

Other recent initiatives include the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, tightening the definition of "made-in-Canada" and "product-of-Canada" labelling and showing international leadership in the safe management of chemical substances.

For more information visit:
Health Canada's Food Allergy and Intolerances: www.healthcanada.gc.ca
Health Canada's Allergen Labelling: www.hc-sc.gc.ca

Looking for leaders in agriculture and food sector

In mid-July, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced that they are seeking nominations for the 2008 Canadian Agri-Food Awards of Excellence. These awards honour the best in the Canadian agriculture and agri-food sector.

"We are looking for innovative thinkers and entrepreneurs that are moving Canadian agriculture forward everyday," said Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz. "Canadian producers are world renowned and we want to make sure they get the recognition they deserve."

Held in partnership with the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, these awards celebrate excellent achievement in youth leadership, innovation, awareness and education, environmental stewardship, export performance and voluntarism.

"These awards give well-deserved recognition to those individuals," said Rob McLaughlin, President of the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair. "The Royal is proud to be a partner in these national awards that recognize Canadian individuals, organizations and companies for their outstanding contributions to the agricultural industry."

Nominations for the Canadian Agri-Food Awards of Excellence recipients will be accepted until Monday, September 15, 2008 and will be presented on Monday, November 10 at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair in Toronto. Winners will be notified in advance.

Selection criteria and nomination forms are available at www.agr.gc.ca or by contacting Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada by phone at 1 800-410-7104 or email info@agr.gc.ca. The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair can be reached at 416-263-3411.