Question Period Note: China and Lobster

• Canada’s high quality lobster has a reputation for safety and sustainability, and represents Canada’s top exported fish and seafood species to China (valued at $509 million in 2019).
• The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring Canada’s lobster industry has the tools it needs to succeed in important markets like China, despite the uncertainty felt due to COVID-19 and as markets recover.
• DFO initiated many important support programs during these difficult times, including the Canadian Seafood Stabilization Fund to support the fish processing sector and the $469.4 million Fish Harvester Benefit and Grant programs, designed to work within the unique pay structures and seasonal nature of the fishing sector.
• DFO is supporting the efforts of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, and our partners at Global Affairs Canada as they work with partners to facilitate Canada’s export of lobster.

Sub Issue A:
How has China’s COVID-19 measures affected imported foods from Canada’s lobster industry?
• China’s COVID-19 related import measures on food products affect frozen or chilled meat, fish and seafood. Those measures do not apply to live products, including lobster.
• The Government of Canada (led by Canadian Food Inspection Agency/Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada) is committed to working with industry to manage China’s requests to maintain access. DFO continues to engage with federal partners to support them, as necessary.

China’s requirements on food imports during COVID-19

• Since mid-June, 2020, China has imposed several COVID-19 related import measures on food products from all trading partners, including suspensions of imports from establishments where there have been COVID-19 outbreaks among workers. The measures have affected frozen or chilled meat, fish and seafood , on the theory that chilled food or food packaging may be a source of transmission of the virus.
• These measures are contrary to guidance issued by the World Health Organization (WHO)/Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) that there is currently no evidence that food or food packaging is a likely source or route of transmission of COVID-19.
• On September 8, 2020, Minister of Small Business, Export Promotion and International Trade, Mary Ng, and Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Marie-Claude Bibeau, held a meeting with the meat and fish and seafood industry to provide an update on the CFIA’s regulatory efforts to minimize the trade impact of China’s measures, as well as Canada’s efforts at a collective response with like-minded trading partners to ensure that food import measures are transparent, risk-based and not disruptive to global supply chains.
• AAFC/CFIA work with industry on the recently announced China import measures has been well-received by the Canadian fish and seafood industry in order to maintain access. DFO continues to engage with federal partners to support them, as necessary.

China Fish and Seafood Market
• Canada’s fish and seafood exports to China (Canada’s second largest export destination by value after the United States) were valued at $1.31 billion in 2019, accounting for 18 per cent of total Canadian fish and seafood exports by value. Top species exported to China were lobster ($509M), crab ($266M) and shrimp ($185M).

None