Browse Data and Analysis

On June 20, 2023, the Government of Canada announced next steps in their sustainable approach to pesticides management. As part of the announcement, Canada will restart the process of evaluating pesticide residue limits for increases, following a pause of this activity since August 2021.

The federal government opened consultations on regulatory changes to the Food and Drug Regulations to allow the incorporation by reference of food compositional standards.

Canada intends to establish a regulatory framework for plastic packaging, covering minimum recycled content requirements, and rules for compostability, and the use of recyclability signs on packaging.

On May 3, 2023, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Agriculture, Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) published updated regulatory guidelines supporting the introduction of gene-edited seeds into the Canadian market.

Health Canada published an updated guidance document to assist businesses in complying with front-of-package nutrition labeling (FOPNL) requirements. The implementation date for these requirements remains January 1, 2026.

FAS/Ottawa forecasts total production of wheat, corn, barley, and oats to increase one percent in MY 2023/24 from the previous year, assuming yields return closer to historic averages and a six percent increase in wheat production offsets production declines in other crops.

Health Canada opened a public consultation period on the federal department’s intent to restrict advertising to children of foods with high content of sodium, sugars or saturated fats.

The 2022 U.S. Agricultural Export Yearbook provides a statistical summary of U.S. agricultural commodity exports to the world during the 2022 calendar year.

Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) opened consultations on proposed maximum residue limits (MRL) for piperonyl butoxide. This proposed revision will see the current MRL of 20 ppm for raw cereals revoked. When a MRL is revoked in Canada, the general MRL of 0.1 ppm comes into effect for both domestic production and imports.

The federal government launched public consultations on a regulatory framework to establish mandatory requirements for recycled content and labelling for plastic products, and on a technical paper that outlines the reporting requirements for the federal plastics registry.

On April 18, 2023, Health Canada’s Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA) opened consultations on proposed maximum residue limits (MRL) for clopyralid.

The Canadian cattle herd will continue to contract in 2023. With a smaller cow herd and reductions in heifer retention the 2023 calf crop is expected to be smaller relative to 2022. Feed price volatility and drought concerns, coupled with a contracting U.S. herd, will see live cattle import numbers fall once again.