Seafood Quality Management Priority

Fish processors and packers in Nova Scotia are currently modifying their quality management program (QMPs) to meet new United States food export regulations.

As of December 18, all Canadian seafood imported into the U.S. must meet these new safety and quality regulations. To ensure no interruption in the export of Nova Scotia fish, the provincial and federal governments have allocated $56,000 for QMP training workshops across the province and $35,000 for the establishment of a supporting seafood safety extension hotline. Funding is also being matched by the participating companies.

"The Nova Scotia seafood industry already has a comprehensive quality management system in place; it will only have to be slightly modified to meet the new American requirements," said Senator Al Graham, Leader of the Government in the Senate, on behalf of Fred Mifflin, Secretary of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA). "The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that Nova Scotia's seafood industry's reputation for quality remains one of the best in the world."

"The United States accounts for 62 per cent of all seafood exported from Nova Scotia," said Manning MacDonald, Minister of Economic Development and Tourism. "That generates about $500 million directly into our economy. We value this relationship and recognize the importance of meeting these new standards."

More than 170 companies registered for the three-day workshops, which started in November. The workshops are being administered by the Nova Scotia School of Fisheries in Pictou and the Shelburne campus of the Nova Scotia Community College.

"One or two management staff from each company usually participate in the workshops, which outline the new Canadian seafood inspection requirements and are in compliance with the new American regulations," said Denny Morrow, executive director, South Western Nova Scotia Fish Packers Association. "This funding will facilitate the change and help ensure that the exporting business of our seafood and aquaculture companies is not subjected to a slowdown."

As a complement to the workshops, the seafood safety extension hotline has been established to assist processors and packers who are modifying their QMPs. This means that if companies have questions during this modification exercise, they have a place to turn to ask for help. The Canadian Institute of Fisheries Technology at DalTech is administering the hotline. The hotline number for people calling long distance is 1-888-480-8818 and 420-2200 in the Halifax metro area. Lines are operational from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday.

The projects are funded by the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency and the Department of Economic Development and Tourism through the Canada/Nova Scotia COOPERATION Agreement on Economic Diversification.