MobilEx Terminal Ltd. – Handling Potash

Order number 2024-48

Introduction:

  1. MobilEx Terminal Ltd. operates a licensed terminal elevator located at Thunder Bay, ON which handles grain regulated under the Canada Grain Act (the Act) and potash which is not regulated under the Act.
  2. Paragraph 57(b) of the Act prohibits receiving into licenced elevators "any material or substance for storage other than grain, grain products or screenings", except as may be authorized by regulation or by order of the Canadian Grain Commission (the Commission).
  3. Section 2 of the Act defines "grain" as the seeds designated by regulation. Subsection 5(1) of the Canada Grain Regulations (the Regulations) designates 21 seeds for the purposes of the Act: barley, beans, buckwheat, canary seed, canola, chickpeas, corn, faba beans, flaxseed, lentils, mixed grain, mustard seed, oats, peas, rapeseed, rye, safflower seed, soybeans, sunflower seed, triticale and wheat.
  4. The Commission has authority under paragraph 117(b) of the Act to make orders exempting a particular elevator or operation from the licensing or any other requirements of this Act or the Regulations, where, in the opinion of the Commission, the control of any type of elevator or type of grain handling operation or any particular elevator or grain handling operation is not essential for maintaining the quality, safe-keeping and orderly and efficient handling of grain in Canada.
  5. MobilEx Terminal Ltd. utilizes the same handling equipment for potash as they do for grain at their licensed terminal elevator at Thunder Bay, ON. With the support of Commission personnel, MobilEx Terminal Ltd. has developed an authorized CGC "clean-out" procedure, which is intended to mitigate the risk of commingling grain and potash that may result from using the same equipment.
  6. The decision in respect of this order was made at a meeting of quorum of the Commission on May 29, 2024. Two of three Commissioners constitutes a quorum of the Commission.

Pursuant to paragraph 117(b) of the Act, the Commission makes the following order:

  1. MobilEx Terminal Ltd. may receive and discharge potash at their licensed terminal elevator at Thunder Bay ON, subject to the following conditions:
    1. MobilEx Terminal Ltd. is required to declare their intention to handle potash at their licensed terminal elevator at Thunder Bay, ON to the Commission's Licensing Unit prior to the beginning of each crop year;
    2. MobilEx Terminal Ltd. must, upon receipt and discharge of potash at their licensed terminal elevator at Thunder Bay, ON, use the CGC authorized clean-out procedure;
    3. The elevator may receive potash on the condition that such material is never stored in bins where grain is stored.
  2. In the event that one or more of the conditions set out in subparagraphs 1. a., b. and c. of this order are not met, the Commission may stipulate a reasonable period for compliance or terminate this order and notify MobilEx Terminal Ltd. in writing of its decision.
  3. If potash is detected in grain being discharged from MobilEx Terminal Ltd.'s licensed terminal elevator in Thunder Bay, ON, the Commission will review certification options for the grain shipment in the contaminated hold(s). Grain certification will be held as "Grain Type, Extraneous Material", until the shipment is reviewed by the Chief Grain Inspector.
  4. If potash is detected, in order for the Commission to proceed with certification of the grain shipment as grade ordered, MobilEx Terminal Ltd. must adhere to the following procedures:
    1. Remove grain and potash from the vessel hold(s) in question;
    2. Treat the grain as advised by the Chief Grain Inspector; and
    3. Provide the Commission with a sample of the material removed from the vessel hold(s) in question and any other information that is needed for the Commission to determine if certification of the shipment can be made.
  5. This order comes into effect on the later of the crop year commencing August 1, 2024, or the signing date, and is in effect until July 31, 2025, unless revoked earlier.

This order may be executed and delivered via facsimile or PDF and in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall be deemed to constitute one and the same instrument, and it shall not be necessary in making proof of this order to produce or account for more than one such counterpart.

David Hunt
Chief Commissioner

Patty Rosher
Assistant Chief Commissioner

Lonny McKague
Commissioner

Signed on: May 29, 2024