U.S.-Canada Reg Alignment Plans for 2015 Include Wood Packaging Materials, Post-Entry Quarantine, Food Safety
The U.S.-Canada Regulatory Cooperation Council released on May 28 its annual work plans for 2015 (here). Areas on the agenda for regulatory alignment include energy efficiency standards, implementation of international standards for treatment of wood packaging materials (and withdrawal of a current exemption for Canada), and recognition of Canada’s food safety system. Highlights are as follows:
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Energy efficiency standards. The RCC’s 2015 work plan includes a list of products for which Natural Resources Canada will align its energy efficiency standards and test methods with U.S. Department of Energy rules (here). Scheduled for potential alignment in 2015-16 include clothes dryers and washers, refrigerators and freezers, dishwashers, lamps and lamp ballasts, air conditioners, and water heaters. Potential “medium-term” actions in 2015-17 will include alignment of standards on power supplies and transformers, ice makers, microwaves, electric motors, oil furnaces, and vending machines.
Wood packaging materials. The work plan for cooperation between the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (here) and the Canada Food Inspection Agency includes a plan to implement the international standard ISPM 15 for treatment of wood packaging materials used in trade between the U.S. and Canada. The plan includes an 18-24 month grace period before full enforcement of an upcoming final rule withdrawing the current treatment exemption for Canada, as proposed in 2010 (see 10120215).
Post-entry quarantine. The APHIS-CFIA work plan also says the U.S. and Canada will implement by April 26 a program to allow quarantine to take place in Canada for plant taxa that have post-entry quarantine conditions for importation into the United States (see 1503230060).
Food safety systems recognition. The work plan for cooperation between the Food and Drug Administration and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (here) includes plans to finalize a systems recognition agreement on food safety by fall 2015. The plan also says the CFIA and FDA will develop a plan by late 2015 to “enhance reliance on each other’s oversight,” including by adjusting “admissibility IT systems and risk based inspection frequencies, operations manuals and procedures,” and guidance and training for agency staff.
(Other work plans released by the RCC include drugs, devices, biologics, pesticides, transportation, marine safety and security, explosives, chemicals and aquaculture.)