D-03-02 - Canadian Heat Treated Wood Products Certification Program

Memo to Members/Grading Agencies

Background

In April the CLSAB was asked to comment on the latest revisions to D-03-02 as published by the Forestry Division of CFIA resulting from a meeting two years ago between CLSAB and CFIA where it was agreed CFIA would eliminate the restrictive language that prohibits CLSAB from having equal jurisdiction to other Service Providers. This would enable CLSAB Accredited Agencies to register facilities under the Canadian Heat Treated Wood Products Certification Program that do not have heat treatment facilities.
The approach used by the Forestry Division to address this request was to combine D-03-02 and D-01-05 which creates more issues as it is written from the perspective that CFIA has the ability on their own to monitor domestic phytosanitary production and movement. CLSAB provides this ability through the CLSAB Regulations.

Actions Taken

After extensive consultation amongst the CLSAB members of the CFIA-CLSAB Technical Committee two letters were sent today to the CFIA regarding the latest draft of D-03-02 as prepared by CFIA.

The first letter was addressed to Sandra Wing, Vice President Policy and Programs, CFIA requesting that CFIA formally recognize the CLSAB as a co-regulator in the production and manufacture of wood products in Canada as it pertains to existing and future Forestry Division directives. This approach will address duplication by CFIA in program delivery as CFIA would have program oversight and CLSAB would be responsible for the delivery of CFIA Forestry directives that reference CLSAB.

The second letter was addressed to Marcel Dawson National Manager, Forestry Division, CFIA requesting that D-03-02 4th revision remains in effect and that the CLSAB is prepared to work with CFIA on revising QSM-02, QSM-05 and QSM-06 as appropriate and in the development of training modules after we have a mutually accepted D-03-02 that recognizes CLSAB as a co-regulator.

Next Steps

The CLSAB has requested a meeting for early July with Sandra Wing and advised CFIA that if we are not able to resolve recognition as co-regulators in a timely manner the CLSAB will review its commitment to maintaining Schedule C in the CLSAB Regulations.

If you have any questions regarding this memorandum please do not hesitate to contact me by email at
cdentelbeck-clsab@telus.net or by phone at 604-516-9400.

Chuck Dentelbeck, President & CEO, CLSAB

June 30, 2010

Filed on July 13, 2010