FAQs

Anyone who grows, buys, sells, brokers or provides transportation services for produce should be a DRC member to reduce financial risk and improve profitability. Membership is open to all firms who conduct business in a country that is a signatory to an internationally recognized arbitration convention, such as the New York Convention1. The DRC’s jurisdiction extends to disputes between members who are party to transactions entered into commerce in North America.

• greater commercial assurance
• one-on-one professional and confidential consultation, access to DRC’s Help Desk, customized seminars, webinars, printable checklists for staff, DRC publications, and much more
• improved business networking and access to up to date information on current and potential trading partners
• DRC provides members with fast, fair and enforceable solutions to disputes that may arise during member-to-member transactions
• for Canadians, a DRC membership fulfills the regulatory requirement for those subject to the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR)
• DRC addresses with all types of disputes, including product quality or condition at destination as well as payment issues that may occur between members internationally and domestically

There is no need for changes if the practices have been agreed to by all parties (e.g.: a contractual agreement) or are consistent with DRC’s rules. Should your contract of sale be vague, ambiguous, or you do not have one, DRC’s established Trading Standards and Transportation Standards are the default.

Unlike the Blue Book, the core business of DRC is dispute resolution. All DRC members are obligated to resolve disputes as per DRC Rules. Arbitration decisions are final and binding

DRC is a not-for-profit corporation that:

• requires all members to conduct business in accordance with internationally recognized, fair and ethical trading standards
• requires all members to submit to mediation or arbitration to settle disputes, using rules that are also internationally recognized
• provides services up to and including informal mediation at no additional cost beyond the membership fee
• does not collect a percentage of a mediated settlement
• provides court enforceable decisions and awards

DRC does not provide credit information services; the Blue Book provides credit information.

DRC has jurisdiction over disputes between members and arbitration awards are court enforceable in countries that are signatories to an internationally recognized mediation and/or arbitration convention, such as the New York Convention. As a result, it is not necessary that DRC offer regulatory support for enforcement. DRC does, however, providing you with assistance on how to enforce an award.

With respect to member discipline, if a member is not acting in accordance with DRC’s By-laws and Operating Rules, the member may be terminated. For Canadian buyers, membership termination limits one’s ability to buy from outside of the country.

Any member who does not follow its membership obligations, including payment of an award, will be terminated from membership and DRC members will be advised of the termination.

Under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations a DRC membership is a regulatory requirement for Canadian firms who buy, sell, import or export fresh fruits and vegetables.

A DRC membership can help you reduce risk and minimize losses through education, common trading standards and the availability of affordable and timely dispute resolution. Before doing business with a new company, contact DRC to determine if additional information is available to assist you to make informed decisions. If you are experiencing a recurring problem or have a question, DRC can provide in-house seminars or webinars to address your specific needs. As a DRC member, should a dispute arise we can help you avoid the lengthy and costly court process. DRC trading assistance staff and a roster of arbitrators are efficient and knowledgeable about the unique nature of the produce industry. Most disputes are resolved informally and do not escalate to arbitration.

A DRC membership is not a requirement for a company located outside of Canada, but it is a legal requirement for a Canadian buyer to be a DRC member. If you are selling fresh fruits or vegetables to a company in Canada, the United States or Mexico in order to have access to dispute resolution services you must be a DRC member at the time the dispute arose. If a problem arises and you are not a DRC member at the time of the transaction, your recourse will be the lengthy and expensive court process.

A membership application is available online (FVDRC.com) or by contacting the Help Desk. After you complete and return the application, including payment, to the DRC office, a member services representative will contact you. Payment must be submitted with a completed application for the review process to begin. If a membership application is not approved or is returned, the fee will not be charged to your credit card. If payment was made by cheque or wire transfer, the fee will be refunded in full.

The process to approve and issue a DRC membership generally takes from one (1) week to thirty (30) days. We recommend consideration of this timeline when submitting an application for membership.

You may join at any time; however, DRC only has jurisdiction over transactions which occur following the approval of your membership application. Simply put, if you were not a DRC member at the time of the transaction under dispute, DRC’s ability to assist you is more limited than if you had been a member.

A DRC membership is only granted to a single legal entity. A Membership may not be shared.

• Prevention Measures
  training, seminars and other informational and educational tools are the foundation of our system
• Unassisted Problem Solving
  the parties try to resolve the dispute either on their own or with limited assistance from the DRC Help Desk
• Consulting & Coaching
  parties who need additional support may call DRC for specific, confidential guidance
• Informal Mediation
  an informal exchange of documentation between DRC and the other parties involved; deadlines are imposed to ensure rapid resolution
• Formal Mediation
  when informal mediation has not resulted in a resolution, parties may agree to use an assigned mediator to help facilitate a voluntary settlement for a nominal fee
• Expedited Arbitration
  < $50,000 USD or by agreement of the parties – a binding settlement is determined by a mutually selected third party for a nominal fee
• Formal Arbitration
  > $50,000 USD – a binding settlement is determined by a mutually selected neutral third party following an oral hearing; fees are applicable

Yes, DRC can resolve domestic disputes provided the companies are within Canada, the United States or Mexico. DRC will resolve international disputes provided the dispute arises in relation to a transaction that has entered into commerce in Canada, the United States or Mexico.

Yes, outstanding arbitration awards may be registered and enforced in the appropriate court of law or appropriate legal proceedings. Over 168 countries, including Canada, Mexico and the United States, are signatories to the New York Convention which provides for the enforcement of arbitral awards through the courts. Furthermore, failure to honor an arbitration award will result in expulsion from DRC.

Experienced, professionally trained DRC staff handle the informal exchange of information between the parties. Once the strengths and weaknesses of the case have been discussed, attempts are made to ensure an amicable, informal settlement.

Should this informal process not result in settlement, the parties participate in selecting a neutral from the DRC-approved list of arbitrators. These individuals are not DRC employees. While DRC staff administer the formal process, the independent neutrals conduct the arbitration and reach their decision without input from DRC staff or access to the informal file.

Contact DRC’s Help Desk. Staff will advise you of the best course of action for your issue. Membership fees cover all DRC services up to the point of formal arbitration. Service is available in English, French and Spanish.

DRC attempts to help its members regardless of whether the dispute is with another DRC member or not. DRC rules have been set up to encourage membership. However, they also provide an opportunity for non-members (for a fee) to use the services of DRC as an effective and efficient alternative to the courts. That said, DRC’s recourse is limited when you deal with a non-member, therefore we strongly recommend you encourage your trading partners to join in order to avoid being left without remedy

DRC is able to assist with any dispute arising from the sale of fresh fruits and vegetables, as well issues that arise at shipping point, receiving or even in transit as well as cases of non-payment.

Consultations and informal filings are included as part of membership fees. However, if you are unable to resolve your dispute at that point you may choose to proceed to formal mediation or arbitration. Fees apply and are based on a sliding scale to keep costs affordable. Less than 20% of all disputes brought to the DRC proceed to this step. A fixed filing fee of $600 USD is in place for a claim of less than $15,000 USD. For claims over $15,000 USD, please contact the DRC office for a copy of the fee schedule.

Consultations, Coaching and Informal Mediation may be completed over the phone, via e-mail or by fax. All information may be exchanged electronically. During formal arbitration, the parties will likely have to travel for a hearing; however, DRC strives to select a location that is easily accessible for all involved. Disputes very rarely escalate to formal arbitration.

DRC does not provide destination inspection services, nor does it accredit any service and policy regarding destination inspection is as noted below. Assuming domestic capacity within a member country, inspection delivery options are, in order of preference:

• United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) government inspections
• USDA/CFIA accredited inspection services
• private inspections mutually agreed upon by both parties involved in the dispute

The service that carries the most weight is a government inspection (i.e. a CFIA or USDA inspection). The next best option is a destination inspection service which is accredited by CFIA or USDA, however, at the present time there are none.

In the event of a dispute where a non-government survey or inspection is being submitted as evidence, the burden of proof regarding the agreement, the credibility, and the impartiality of that inspection will rest with the party submitting the inspection. When using a non-government service, it is imperative to demonstrate that the parties discussed, understood and agreed to the use of a non-government survey.

Both the CFIA and the USDA are actively engaged with DRC in an advisory capacity
and a representative from each body maintains an ex-officio advisory position on the DRC Board of Directors

If you are an active DRC member you satisfy the CFIA’s membership requirements under the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations.

1. Education: DRC provides dispute prevention education to our members via seminars, fact sheets, our Solutions e-newsletter and more.
2. Mediation & Consultation: Members can access the DRC Help Desk for confidential consultation. If the parties request, we also offer formal mediation that provides a set timeframe to try and reach a voluntary settlement with the help of a mediator.
3. Arbitration: Where a voluntary settlement has not been reached, the parties assign an arbitrator to render a binding decision.
4. Networking: In order to ensure our services are available to you, it is important your trading partners are members of DRC. If they are not, encourage them to join and always ask new trading partners if they are a DRC member.

DRC Membership is an excellent risk management tool that allows members to focus on their business while we help them resolve their disputes. For less than the cost of most loads, you have year round peace of mind.

Anyone who grows, buys, sells, brokers or provides transportation services for produce should be a DRC member in order to protect their business. Unlike trade associations and other industry groups offering help, DRC members are obligated to follow DRC Rules and participate in the dispute resolution process. Any member who fails to comply will be disciplined which can include termination, and in some cases loss of the ability to import products.

Yes, provided the load entered into commerce in North America at any point, DRC has the jurisdiction to help resolve disputes with all members.

DRC attempts to help its members regardless of whether the dispute is with another DRC member or not. It is beneficial for all members to encourage their trading partners to join DRC.