A DRC membership is far more than good business and, in a few weeks, it becomes a regulatory requirement for anyone subject to the Safe Food for Canadians Regulations (SFCR).
Here are some important reminders:
When it comes to the SFCR, there are two important distinctions:
- requirements related to food safety and traceability; and,
- requirements related to trade and commerce.
Although much of the detail in the regulations concerns food safety and traceability, there is a very important trade and commerce requirement for buyers and sellers of fresh fruits and vegetables: Canadian buyers and sellers of fresh fruits and vegetables must be members of the Fruit and Vegetable Dispute Resolution Corporation (DRC), unless excepted. In other words, if you are subject to the requirement a DRC membership is your authority to trade produce.
While a DRC membership fulfills the SFCR regulatory requirement that provides authority to buy, sell or negotiate the sale or purchase of fruits and vegetables inter-provincially, intra-provincially and internationally, there is much more to it than that.
A DRC membership has always been a wise business decision, especially when it comes to risk management. Your DRC membership gives you an avenue to seek advice, interpret business and claims documents, mediate with your trading partner, and when necessary get a binding decision on a dispute that simply can’t be resolved informally. As a risk management tool it is important your trading partners be DRC members as well. Their membership ensures a common set of rules are in place when disputes occur. It also allows us to have done a background check and monitor any other issues which may be occurring. If they are avoiding the DRC membership, should you be asking yourself why?
Regardless of where you are buying or selling your produce, your best protection as a buyer or seller is a DRC membership, especially when both parties are members.
