The Canadian Food Inspection Agency is getting closer to updating its seed regulations.
On Monday, the agency released a “What We Heard” report summarizing the responses of 315 individuals and groups who participated in an online survey from Feb. 15 to May 1.
The CFIA is looking to update seed regulations to “reduce complexity, protect producers and consumers by strengthening existing rules and adapt to future technical advances and innovation.”
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The online consultation is part of the process to alter the seeds regulations.
The CFIA was looking for feedback on variety registration, sampling testing and grading of seed, harvesting, cleaning seed and conditioning and seed crop certification.
In its report, the CFIA said a large share of the 315 respondents, including seed growers, farmers, commodity groups and plant breeders, supported the following recommendations:
- Setting up a national variety registration system.
- Developing a regulatory pathway for heritage and heirloom varieties.
- Forming regional recommending committees with the authority to recommend placing a regional restriction on a variety registration in their specific region.
- Continuing one national body establishing and determining the seed crop varietal purity standards to issue a seed crop certificate.
- Making the purity standards for No. 1 and No. 2 grades the same.
“Variety registration creates a high level of trust as the quality of traits is consistent in the seed and crops grown in Canada,” the CFIA said, summarizing the comments on the national variety registration system.
“That equips farmers to make decisions about what they grow while maintaining end-user confidence for products to be in a competitive market.”
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There was mixed support for other ideas to modernize the seeds regulations.
For instance, respondents aren’t sure it’s a good idea for someone other than the CFIA to deliver training to licensed seed crop inspectors.
The CFIA will consider the input from the online survey when it eventually modernizes the seeds regulations.
However, the agency “anticipates” more consultations on seed regulatory modernization this winter.
— Robert Arnason reports for the Winnipeg bureau of the Western Producer.
