Under the current regulatory landscape in Canada, companies that are importing fresh produce from another country or buying from another province (with a few exemptions) must be a DRC member in good standing or have a CFIA license. While impending changes to the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations have been outlined in a previous Solutions Article, one thing remains the same – consequences of loss of good standing:
Once a DRC membership is terminated, there is no protection on future sales or potential claims.
Termination of DRC membership often has other business consequences as well. Many buyers, chains, wholesalers, distributors and large shippers will only do business with DRC members. Don’t let your membership lapse and risk severing business relationships if your firm is no longer an active DRC member. You must be a member in advance of a dispute in order to take advantage of the assistance we offer including the DRC dispute resolution model. The model is designed to reduce risk and facilitate fair and ethical trade between members.
We encourage our members to ask their buying partners to become DRC members if they are not already. Given the complexity and perishability of produce, we help DRC members resolve disputes in a fast and fair manner. While some firms will be required to be members under the impending new legislation, anyone buying or selling produce can be a member with the same rights and responsibilities.
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. 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.
To find out more about becoming a DRC member or ensuring your membership is up to date and in good standing, please visit FVDRC.com or contact the DRC.
Remember, you must be a member in advance of a dispute in order to take advantage of the assistance we offer.
For more information please call or email the DRC Help Desk at:
DRC Help Desk | 613-234-0982 | [email protected]
