Canada’s new Agriculture Minister is proposing several reforms to make the country’s food producers more resilient against U.S. tariffs, including faster approval for livestock feed ingredients, moving beyond outdated mad cow regulations, and rethinking labelling for fruits and vegetables.
Kody Blois announced the measures, which included a list of changes for Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), on Tuesday, two weeks before U.S. President Donald Trump’s sweeping 25-per-cent tariffs on all Canadian goods are set to become effective.
But Mr. Blois said the changes, proposed ahead of a federal election, are also meant to signal a broader strategy for Canadian food production.
“Enabling a competitive advantage and level playing field for Canadian agricultural products are among my top priorities,” he said in the announcement.
Food producers and agricultural experts have long sought a more efficient food safety apparatus, and they’re hoping this trade crisis, new Liberal leadership and changes to some food safety regulations will be the start of a new chapter.
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