CPMA: CFIA to phase out Destination Inspection Service

The Canadian Produce Marketing Association BB #:153602 says that its members have reported that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency will no longer offer the Destination Inspection Service (DIS).

CPMA says CFIA has not provided an implementation timeline but has indicated that these changes will not take effect immediately. CFIA says the move is part of the government’s budgetary cuts.

Ron Lemaire, CPMA President, issued the following communication to members January 30, 2026:

“To respond immediately, CPMA and the DRC, along with CPMA Chair Steve Bamford and CPMA Government-Issue Management Industry Committee Chair Quinton Woods, participated in a call with the CFIA President and his staff.

“CPMA has also contacted the Minister of Agriculture and met with his senior staff, and has engaged with Parliamentarians and officials at Agriculture and Agri-food Canada and in the Prime Minister’s Office.

“Together, we have articulated the critical importance of DIS to the fresh produce supply chain. We emphasized the program’s long-standing role in stabilizing the Canadian market and preventing inflationary pressure. Prior to the establishment of DIS, many shippers added 10% to 15% to the cost of goods when exporting to Canada due to the absence of a trusted, government-backed inspection mechanism. Losing DIS places us at real risk of returning to these conditions.

“We also highlighted the risk that exporters may become unwilling to ship product to Canada due to increased market instability and uncertainty around full payment or the validated fair value of goods. These concerns threaten the reliability of supply into Canada and could impact product availability and pricing for consumers.

“Importantly, the impact of ending DIS extends far beyond imported products. Domestic grower, packer, and shipper operations across Canada also rely on a government-run destination inspection service when selling within the country. The loss of DIS would remove a key tool that supports fair transactions, market transparency, and dispute resolution for Canadian producers shipping interprovincially.

“DIS is also a foundational component of our commercial framework alongside licensing, insolvency protection, and dispute-resolution. Removing one of these pillars jeopardizes our ability to regain preferential access under the U.S. Perishable Agricultural Commodities Act (PACA) and undermines Canada’s broader trade strategy with our biggest trading partner.

“Next week, we will be circulating a survey to help quantify and communicate to the government why this program is so important and what its closure would mean for fresh produce businesses across the country.

“We will keep our members informed as discussions move forward and thank you in advance for your support.”