Power to the people. Score one for the little guy. Recent decisions from the Canadian Federal court have upheld rules protecting the composition of cheese processed in Canada and maintaining the minimum amounts of fresh Canadian milk used in such dairy products.

In 2008, the Canadian government announced regulatory changes to the Food and Drugs Act and the Canadian Agricultural Products Act that would come into effect on December 14, 2008 significantly changing the way cheeses were sold in Canada. The regulations would require cheese makers to strictly limit the use of natural constituents of milk, frequently referred to as modified milk, or dairy ingredients. These regulations were meant to protect the percentage of fresh Canadian milk used in the production of Canadian cheese.

October 20th 2008, in anticipation of the regulatory changes, Kraft Canada Inc., Parmalat Canada Inc.and Saputo Inc. (KPS) jointly filed an Application in the Federal Court of Canada challenging these new regulations. They alleged that the regulations would cost more to the consumer and cause injury to the industry as a whole as consumers would buy less of the now more expensive cheese and in the words of KPS spokesperson Yvan Loubier “threaten the viability of Canada as a cheese making nation.”

Over the past several years through a series of subtle modifications to the Canadian milk quota and tariff system, major dairy processors have eroded the protective legislative framework which ensured that Canadian dairy products were made from Canadian milk. Ingredients labelled “milk constituents”, “milk protein”, “whey protein concentrate”, and other milk derivatives other than milk were imported from countries with looser dairy agriculture regulations than those of Canada’s (e.g. Brazil, USA, China), thus limiting public oversight of such practices as dairy cattle treatment with hormones, humane farm practices.

In their initial October ruling, the Federal Court of Canada upheld the newer stronger ammendments to the Food and Drugs Act and the Canadian Agricultural Products Act. In November 2009, Saputo and Kraft came back on the attack – appealing the ruling that would require cheese producers to use more full-fat milk and less milk solids. Again, they argue that consumers, dairy farmers and cheese producers would benefit from a freer market. In other countries where agricutural protections have been relaxed – farmers and consumers have been clear losers (to the benefit of the multinationals). For example, the European Court of Auditors in an October 2009 report found that between 2000 and 2007, when the EU began relaxing quota regulations, the producer price fell six per cent, while consumer prices increased by 17 per cent. It’s up to us to support the creation of a fair and equitable market that benefits both consumers and primary producers. When your local politician comes visiting looking for your votes – ask him or her what they intend to do to help protect our farmers and our food markets from the gouging of multinationals. Get involved and choose to buy your products from small local producers or direct from the farm whenever possible. Protect your own food security.