Canadian Pork Promotion-Research Agency Created

Summary#

The Canadian Pork Promotion-Research Agency Proclamation establishes a new federal body under the Farm Products Agencies Act to promote and research hogs and pork. The agency can raise money through levies on interprovincial marketing and imports, will have 12 members, and will be based in Ottawa.

What it does#

• Creates the Canadian Pork Promotion-Research Agency with a board of 12 members:
  • one member nominated from each of nine named provincial pork associations;
  • one member representing importers; and
  • two members from other parts of the pork value chain or related fields.
• Sets member terms at 1 year (each elected at the agency’s annual meeting).
• Requires the agency to elect a chair and vice-chair from among its members.
• Authorizes the agency to:
  • promote the marketing and production of hogs and pork for interprovincial, export and import trade;
  • conduct and support research about those products.
• Allows the agency to impose levies or charges on people who market hogs in interprovincial or export trade and on those who import hogs or pork products into Canada.
  • Levies unpaid after 30 days become a debt owed to the agency.
  • Money from import-related levies must be kept in a separate account.
• Requires the agency to submit an annual budget and business program to the Council for approval.
• Requires a review meeting every 5 years and a written report within 3 months after each review.

Who's affected#

• Hog and pork producers across Canada (through provincial pork associations and the new agency).
• Importers of hogs and pork products (they can be charged levies and must keep records).
• Other parts of the pork value chain such as processors, retailers, restaurants, food service and researchers (two board seats are reserved for value-chain participants or experts).
• Consumers are not directly named, but changes in levies or marketing programs could indirectly affect prices or product promotion.

Why it matters#

• This proclamation creates a single, national body to promote Canadian pork and fund research. That can change how marketing and research dollars are raised and spent across provinces.
• The agency’s power to levy charges on interprovincial marketers and on importers means new, organized funding for industry programs — and a potential new cost for some businesses in the supply chain.
• The agency provides a formal forum for coordination among provincial associations, importers and other industry players, which could influence marketing, research priorities and trade-related activities.