Industry Objectives

Like other Canadian food industry sub-sectors, the grain milling industry is extensively regulated at the federal and provincial level and is significantly affected by public policy. Accordingly, CNMA is very active on behalf of its member companies in advocating sound policies and sensible regulations that enhance industry performance and competitiveness.

In order to meet these objectives, Canada’s regulatory framework must be aligned with that of our most important trading partner, the United States. Canadian and U.S. consumers have similar tastes and expectations. Consumers are also mobile, enjoying employment, retirement, leisure, cuisine and foodservice experiences in both countries.

Issues identified below are of key importance to milling industry investment and performance.

Wheat Quality Assurance – Preservation of Canada’s Quality System

Canada’s global reputation as a supplier of high quality milling wheat , wheat flour and other milled grain products is the outcome of decades of a systematic approach to provide quality assurance in the milling wheat and other grain varieties that are grown and marketed in Canada. CNMA has consistently been an advocate of developing quality assurance tools and disciplines to enable quality assurance to the entire grain industry value chain before change is implemented.

CNMA’s position acknowledges that quality assurance concerns of wheat, oat and corn millers are not identical. However, all share in the need for an assured, year-round supply of high milling quality grains with end use traits and performance that further processors and consumers demand. These requirements have been recognized and responded to by the Canadian Grain Commission and researchers in both the public and private sector. The pace of evolution of Canada’s grain industry has been quick over the past decade. However, the foundation of quality assurance remains in place.

Health Claims in Food Labelling and Advertising

Canada’s federal regulatory framework for foods (Schedule A, Section 3, Food and Drugs Act) prohibits the use health claims in food labelling and advertising, even if the claim is scientifically demonstrated and accepted at the international level. CNMA is among many food industry and other consumer product industry associations that have consistently advocated removal of the Schedule A prohibition to permit declaration of health claims that are scientifically supported.

This has been of particular interest to the CNMA since a number of generic health claims for grain-based foods have been approved in the United States, Canada’s largest trading partner and export market. In addition, despite the mandatory enrichment of wheat flour with folic acid, neither millers nor bakery product companies are permitted to state in product labels or advertising the public health reason for fortification with folic acid. CNMA continues to advocate responsible use of health claims. In 2009, Health Canada declared its intention to proceed to approve a generic claim for whole grains and for folic acid (folate). Also awaiting final approval are claims for oat and psyllium fibre.

Voluntary Fortification of Foods With Vitamins and Minerals

Health Canada’s draft policy on voluntary fortification would exclude staple foods such as milled grain products and bakery products from foods to which vitamins and minerals could be added, other than as required by regulation (standardized products). CNMA is of the view that consumers should have access to a broader range of products offering a wide range of nutritional attributes. CNMA is opposed to the arbitrary exclusion of milled grain products and bakery products from voluntary fortification and in favour of adoption of a clear voluntary fortification policy that would encourage product innovation.

Government-mandated Grain Marketing Agencies – CWB and OWPMB

Canada has two government-mandated grain marketing agencies, both marketers of wheat. The Canadian Wheat Board (CWB) is empowered under the Canadian Wheat Board Act to function as the only marketer of wheat grown in western Canada (Prairie provinces and Peace River District of British Columbia). All western Canadian wheat sold to the Canadian grain milling industry by law must be purchased from the Canadian Wheat Board.

The CNMA has publicly expressed a willingness to continue to work with the CWB in the execution of this mandate as long as the CWB retains control over the entire western Canadian wheat crop and takes all reasonable steps to emulate the U.S. open market at all times. To this end, CNMA and CWB have a formal memorandum of agreement on principles of price determination.

The Ontario Wheat Producers’ Marketing Board (OWPMB) has operated under authority that resides in legislation of the Province of Ontario. Formerly operating as a single desk marketing monopoly, the OWPMB voluntarily terminated its monopoly selling practice several years ago, to permit individual farmers and others to market wheat produced in Ontario to Canadian and export customers. Most recently (January 2010), the OWPMB amalgamated with the Ontario Corn Producers Association and the Ontario Soybean Growers to establish Grain Farmers of Ontario. The marketing mandates for soybeans and wheat previously held by the founding organizations have been continued under Grain Farmers of Ontario’s charter.

The CNMA has a positive working relationship with the CWB and GFO in addressing policy and regulatory issues of importance to the grain industry value chain. The three organizations are members of the Canada Grains Council and are working in close collaboration with other Council member organizations on food safety initiatives.

Links:

Canadian Wheat Board
Grain Farmers of Ontario
Canada Grains Council

The Montreal Protocol – Ozone-depleting Substances Regulations

The Canadian National Millers Association is actively cooperating with Environment Canada in the complete phase out of methyl bromide as a pest control technology. The government of Canada is a signatory to the Montreal Protocol, a multilateral treaty created to eliminate the use of certain chemical substances that are believed to damage the ozone layer of earth’s atmosphere. Methyl bromide, a chemical that is naturally generated by oceans and released into the atmosphere and is also be manufactured, has been identified as an ozone-depleting substance. However, methyl bromide has also been the leading and most effective pest control fumigant used in grain processing facilities since the 1960’s.

CNMA and its member companies, in cooperation with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, have been evaluating alternative pest control products and methods with the objective of eliminating methyl bromide use. As of 2010 Canada’s phase-out of methyl bromide for structural fumigation of grain mills is almost complete.

MB Alternatives Research Project Report: English | French

Occupational Safety and Health – Flour Dust

Flour milling is the only federally regulated food processing industry for occupational safety and health. The industry falls under federal OSH jurisdiction as consequence of having being designated along with certain other industry sectors such as transportation and financial services in various federal laws as being of national interest.

Federal OSH regulations are found in Part II of the Canada Labour Code. These regulations incorporate by reference, occupational exposure limits recommended and published by a non-government organization. The OEL for flour dust is not achievable in any country in the world using state-of-the-art flour milling technology. CNMA has requested that Human Resources and Skills Development Canada amend the federal OSH regulations. Pending completion of this regulatory amendment, CNMA has developed and disseminated a best practices guide for the Canadian grain milling industry. As of early 2010, regulatory amendments are still pending.

Food Safety

Foods and food ingredients manufactured from cereal grains have a very high degree of food safety. The presence of microorganisms that can cause food-borne illnesses is extremely rare in milled grain products and further-processed grain-based foods.

Wheat flour, other milled grain products, pasta and noodles have a very long shelf life in retail stores and in home kitchens as a consequence of having very low moisture and fat content.

In 2009, Health Canada published a proposal to establish new maximum limits for a mycotoxin, ochratoxin A (OTA), a naturally occurring chemical residue that is imparted to grain from fungal growth that occurs during grain storage. CNMA is working closely with other grain industry participants to determine the most effective measures available to reduce OTA levels in cereal grains and grain-based foods.

What about allergies?

The proteins that are found in cereal grains are generally known as glutens. Some people lack the ability to digest gluten and cannot tolerate wheat gluten in particular in their diets. Although acute allergies to cereal grains are rare, they can occur. If you’re not sure, consult your health care practitioner. For additional information, you may wish to contact: www.celiac.ca or www.anaphylaxis.ca or Health Canada at www.hc-sc.gc.ca.

Food Additives

All food additives used in milled grain products, further processed and ready-to-eat grain-based foods require pre-market evaluation and approval under Canada’s regulatory system. To be approved, all food additives permitted in grain products are assumed to be safe for a lifetime of human consumption and are listed in Section B of the Food and Drug Regulations. www.hc-sc.gc.ca

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