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Wheat Board Violates NAFTA
Organic Special Products Group (OSPG) has written to the CWB requesting
that the current areas of CWB regulatory policy that place the CWB in
breach of the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) be changed to
comply with the requirements of NAFTA.
“Prairie grown non-board feed wheat and barley and non-board farm
processed grain products can be marketed freely throughout Canada, but
CWB policy prohibits the export of these non-board goods, ” states
OSPG spokesperson John Husband, Wawota, Saskatchewan. “This
violates Article 309 of NAFTA that does not allow such restrictions on
the export of goods.”
“Only feed grains that have been purchased from the CWB are granted
the export licences that are required by the CWB Act. The CWB
makes the distinction between ‘board grains’ and ‘non-board
grains’ by maintaining a different policy for each. Board grains
are granted licences, non-board grains are denied licences.”
Arnold Schmidt produces Schmidt Flour, from the organic wheat he grows
on his farm. CWB policy allows him to market his non-board flour
throughout Canada. “I had a buyer for my flour in the United
States but when I applied for an export licence for my flour it was
denied. The CWB told me I could only get a licence if I did their
buy-back, which meant I could only export flour made from wheat
purchased from the CWB, even if I grew it. The CWB lets big feed
companies export their products without a buy-back, why don’t they
allow the same for farm processors?”
The CWB favors the feed companies with a special Export Manufactured
Feed Agreement, (“EMFA”), and grants them export licences, which
allows the companies to export directly to the United States, exempt
from the monopoly. “Unlike unprocessed feed grains, the EMFA
means the CWB processed feed policy complies with NAFTA.” says
Husband.
“The solution for the Board’s compliance with NAFTA, is for the CWB
to change their policy and start granting export licences for non-board
feed grains and non-board farmer processed products.”
For further information please contact:
John Husband 306-739-2900
Arnold Schmidt 306-666-4800
Organic Special Products Group is a voluntary, self-funded
association of organic producers from all regions of the Prairies with
the goal of marketing choice. |
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