QUESTION PERIOD — Agriculture and Agri-Food
Primary Packaging
February 26, 2024
Senator Gold, primary packaging is essential for the sustainability of the global produce supply chain, ensuring that Canadians have access to a diverse range of produce year-round. It plays a crucial role in preserving the quality, safety and affordability of perishable goods sourced from fresh fruit and vegetable producers across this country. The industry continues to strive to enhance packaging sustainability.
However, Canada’s produce sector has concerns with the government’s proposed regulatory and policy actions, which, if implemented, will have adverse and potentially irreversible impacts on Canadians. The proposed regulatory and policy actions single out fresh produce as the only food category subject to a plastics ban.
The Canadian Produce Marketing Association, or CPMA, conducted six studies highlighting the negative effects of the proposed regulations on the fresh produce industry. Of particular concern is the impact on fresh produce affordability and availability. Senator Gold, why is the government proposing regulatory and policy actions that will lead to increased food costs and loss in fresh produce availability for all Canadians?
Thank you for your question. Senator and colleagues, it’s important to note that more than half of all the plastic waste thrown out in Canada is from packaging, and most of it ends up in a landfill, incinerators or in the environment, whether on land or in the sea. While plastics, of course, play an important role in the everyday lives of Canadians, getting rid of problematic plastic food packaging, replacing single-use packaging with reuse-refill systems and ensuring that plastics — when and if needed — are designed to be safely reused, recycled or composted, can help Canada move towards zero plastic waste for the benefit of our environment.
Thank you. The price of food will increase 34% above current levels, and Canadians will lose 50% of value-added fresh products. It was also found through studies that the proposed regulations could increase fresh produce food waste by more than 50% above the current levels for multiple produce categories. So not only will this policy impact the affordability and availability of fresh produce, it will also create more waste and increase greenhouse gas emissions. How does the government plan to mitigate these issues?
Thank you. The government is committed to working with producers and other businesses, grocers and stakeholders to avoid increasing the cost of food and increasing food waste. My understanding is that the government has been very clear that it wants to collaborate with such stakeholders, producers and grocers on implementing solutions that exist, while avoiding the negative consumer and environmental outcomes.
