Growers and shippers exporting to both the United States and Canada often use quality destination inspection services offered by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
The inspection reports from these agencies are considered prima facie evidence. This means their findings are accepted at face value when determining the quality and condition of produce at the destination.
At the Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation (DRC), we frequently receive questions from exporters and shippers about how to interpret these reports, especially when selling into both markets. To add clarity, the major differences between USDA and CFIA inspection practices are outlined below.
1. Grade Standards
- USDA inspectors evaluate product strictly according to U.S. Grade Standards.
- CFIA inspectors use Canadian Grade Standards, and when no Canadian standard is available for a particular commodity, then U.S. Grade Standards apply as the default.
A key distinction:
- USDA reports explicitly state whether the commodity meets or fails to meet the requested grade.
- CFIA reports do not indicate a pass or fail status for the referenced grade standard.
2. Permanent/Quality vs. Condition Defects
CFIA clearly distinguishes defect types using acronyms:
- (C) – Condition defect
- (C/K) – Condition defect on a cut specimen
- (P) – Permanent/quality defect (interior)
- (P/K) – Permanent/quality defect on a cut specimen (interior)
USDA reports differentiate by listing quality/permanent defects first, usually noting the word “quality” in the description. Condition defects follow afterward.
3. Type of Defects
- USDA identifies the severity of each defect—injury, damage, serious damage, or very serious damage—in designated columns.
- CFIA scores damage only.
- Severity (serious or very serious) must be inferred from the description, often based on the surface area affected.
- If no surface area is noted, the defect is considered “damage” unless it is inherently serious, such as decay.
4. Temperature Reporting
- CFIA reports temperatures in Celsius.
- USDA reports temperatures in Fahrenheit.
5. Carrier Information
- USDA reports include a dedicated section for carrier information when the carrier is still present at the receiver’s location.
- CFIA includes carrier details within the “Where Inspected” section and may add further notes in “Remarks.”
6. Range/Variant of Defects
- CFIA reports include a “range” column showing the lowest and highest percentage of each defect found in the sampled product.
- USDA reports include this range within the defect description rather than in a separate column.
Narrative Information
Inspectors from both agencies use descriptive terms that correspond to percentage ranges. While similar, the ranges differ slightly:
| Term | CFIA | USDA |
|---|---|---|
| Occasional | 1 to 5% | 5% or less |
| Few | 6 to 10% | 5 to 10% |
| Some | 11 to 25% | 10 to 25% |
| Many | 26 to 45% | 25 to 45% |
| Approximately Half | 46 to 55% | 45 to 55% |
| Most, Mostly | 56 to 89% | 55 to 90% |
| Generally | 90 to 94% | 90% |
| Nearly All | 95% or More | 95% |
Why Understanding These Differences Matters
Under the DRC Good Inspection Guidelines, always use government agency quality destination inspection services as the primary source of evidence when available. For this reason, it’s essential for members to understand how to interpret USDA and CFIA reports accurately.
Equally important is considering the terms of the transaction, which can influence how inspection results should be applied.
If you are unsure how to interpret an inspection report or need guidance, contact DRC’s Trading Assistance staff or Help Desk for expert support. Don’t hesitate, as getting accurate advice can make a significant difference in your transaction outcomes.
