Industry welcomes an end to restrictive 2008 policy.   Ottawa – The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has launched an online public consultation on Product of Canada and Made in Canada food labels following up on a consultation last year on fixing an 11-year-old policy opposed by farm and food industry groups. Agriculture Minister Marie-Claude Bibeau said her department is seeking consumer views until June 23 on proposed changes to the voluntary food label system. Basically the change would allow manufacturers to label a food as a Product of Canada if it contains at least 85 per cent Canadian grown ingredients. Made in Canada would apply to products that contain less. Back in 2008, the Harper government said foods had to be 98 per cent Canadian content to qualify as Product of Canada, a decision opposed by farm and food groups as unrealistic given the climatic limits on fruits, vegetables and other ingredients that can be grown in Canada. There was wide-spread sector then for an 85 per cent threshold. Bibeau said, “Consumers want to know when their food has a significant amount of Canadian ingredients, so that they make informed decisions and support domestic food producers. This initiative is an important part of our Food Policy for Canada, and the Buy Canadian Promotion campaign.” The 2019 budget promised a $25 million Buy Canadian Promotion campaign as part of the proposed Food Policy for Canada, which aims to promote Canadian agricultural products through advertising and marketing. Anthony Fuchs, Director, Communications and Public Relations for Food & Consumer Products of Canada, said his organization supports the label changes. “It's important that thresholds for Product of Canada claims be adapted to provide Canadian consumers with accurate information so that they can make informed decisions and support domestic food producers. “Given that we are unable to grow all ingredients in Canada due to our climate - like oranges, spices and coffee – and Canadian food manufacturers need to be able to adapt to unpredictable supply disruptions and shortages, flexibility is essential,” he said. An 85 per cent threshold “will allow food manufacturers the needed operational flexibility, support local farmers and also encourage consumers to identify and buy Canadian products. “The current 98 per cent threshold of Canadian content is unworkable, and has resulted in Product of Canada claims not being used even when the vast majority of ingredients was in fact Canadian – this has been a loss for farmers, food manufacturers and consumers,” he said. To make the labels truly successful, Bibeau needs to get Health Canada onside with the food policy and stop branding Canadian products as unhealthy as it is in the proposed Child Health Protection Act, he said. “This will send the wrong message to Canadians and the world, undercut the government's own ambitious export targets and undermine our Canadian farmers and food manufacturers.” The Canadian Federation of Agriculture said that during the consultation on the label changes, it urged the government “to engage the public on any potential changes before making changes from the existing labelling regime, as any proposal needs to ensure it provides Canadians with the information and clarity they are looking for when looking to buy Canadian products and support Canadian farmers and food businesses. We look forward to seeing Canadians' perspectives on these labels and any proposed changes, and look forward to continued dialogue on this topic.' Bibeau agreed that the current rules disadvantage Canadian food companies because “the ingredients they need are not always available or cannot be grown in Canada. Produce is not available year-round in Canada and ingredients such as cane sugar and certain spices)cannot be grown in Canada.” To take the survey, click here, and follow the simple instructions. Alex Binkley is a freelance journalist and writes for domestic and international publications about agriculture, food and transportation issues. He's also the author of two science fiction novels with more in the works.