Access

Maintaining and expanding access to key export markets around the world is critical. Over 80 per cent of our production is exported to international markets, which means that growers need to have access to appropriate markets to ensure the industry’s competitiveness going forward.

SPG partners with other provincial pulse grower groups in supporting work led by our national association, Pulse Canada, to address non-tarrif trade barriers and free trade agreements to ensure Canadian pulse growers remain competitive in the global market.

Non-Tariff Trade Barriers

The Canadian pulse industry may face non-tarrif trade barriers that restrict access for Canadian pulses to export markets. The Canadian pulse industry works closely, and often behind the scenes, with the Canadian government to seek positive resolutions to these trade issues. Examples of recent non-tarrif trade barriers include:

1. Fumigation requirements for Canadian pulses crops destined for India
2. Blackleg detection in the canola present in foreign material occurring in peas exported from Canada
3. A Fusarium strain of quarantine concern to Myanmar
4. Issues with lentils into Egypt due to the presence of sclerotia from white mould
5. Notices of noncompliance from Colombia on presence of soil in shipments of lentils
6. Detention of containers of lentils in Panama due to the detection of weed seeds from round-leaved mallow
7. The revisiting of the alleged detection by Turkey in early 2016 of low-level presence of GM events in red lentils

Free Trade Agreements

At a national level, Pulse Canada works closely with the Government of Canada to highlight and draw attention to the importance of advancing Canadian bilateral and regional trade agreements.

Crop Protection

Pulse growers play a key role in keeping the doors open to international markets. It is fundamental that when applying crop protection products that growers ensure they take the appropriate risk mitigation steps, and always follow the product label, to assure product residue remains below maximum residue limits (MRLs) set by regulatory agencies in export markets.

The Canadian pulse industry is a member of the Keep it Clean! program along with other agriculture sectors to provide growers with up-to-date information on MRLs that allows for Canada to maintain its international reputation as a high-quality agriculture supplier.