ACTION NEEDED ON SASKATOON BERRY RULING

Released on June 7, 2004

The Government of Saskatchewan says the future growth of the province's fledgling saskatoon berry industry may be jeopardized by unnecessary caution at Britain's Food Standard Agency.

The berries were earlier brought under scrutiny through an Act designed to deal with novel foods in the United Kingdom (UK). The legislation calls for a food safety review of products "not substantially consumed" in the UK prior to 1997. Saskatoon berries, which only recently began to move into export markets, met this criteria and a formal decision on their status is expected on June 9th.

However, an advance copy of the decision leaked on May 28th indicates that the Agency will rule that there is no evidence to suggest saskatoon berries are safe to eat. This decision will impact import regulations for the fruit throughout the European Union.

"The whole contention that saskatoon berries are unsafe is ludicrous," Agriculture and Food Minister Mark Wartman said. "This fruit has been a staple of the North American diet for centuries. Not only was it a favoured food of our aboriginal peoples, but it has taken a prominent place in modern cuisine."

Wartman said he will ask the federal government to ensure the UK acts within its trade obligations and does not take actions that provide a disguised barrier to trade.

"We must protest this nonsense in the strongest possible terms," Wartman said. "Saskatoon berry growers worked hard to educate the Food Standard Agency on the safety of their product from the instant it was announced that this review would take place. The leaked document would indicate that those messages did not get through. We now need to enter into formal discussions between our governments on this issue."

Wartman noted that Canadian food products, including saskatoon berries, have to meet strict standards that place Canadian food among the safest in the world.

Wartman said he will contact federal Minister of Agriculture and Food Bob Speller to follow up on the agency's decision.

Saskatchewan's annual saskatoon berry production is worth approximately $6.5 million to the provincial economy. We have approximately 240 saskatoon berry producers and 1000 acres of saskatoon berries in Saskatchewan. Between one and two million pounds of saskatoon berries are produced annually in Saskatchewan.

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For More Information, Contact:

Scott Brown Agriculture, Food and Rural Revitalization Regina Phone: (306) 787-5160