Seed Regulatory Modernization – What’s at stake?

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is continuing its Seed Regulatory Modernization review that could bring in major changes to our seed system. As a Canadian farmer you have always operated within the current seed regulatory framework – it is our “normal” and it provides a strong foundation for our food system. Canada’s long-standing seed regulatory system was designed to:

  • Protect farmers from unscrupulous seed dealers, and from fraud and misrepresentation within the seed system
  • Guarantee farmer choice in seed by providing for multiple, trusted sources of viable seed
  • Regulate imported seed to provide farmer access to a wider variety of seeds and to protect them from noxious weeds and diseases
  • Ensure continuous improvement by requiring new varieties to meet or exceed performance of check varieties in each growing region
  • Ensure farmers can easily get relevant and meaningful information about the seed they use
  • Establish standards for germination and purity, and prevent proliferation of noxious weeds and crop diseases through seed grade tables

Canada’s seed regulations currently protect farmers and the public interest – but this could soon change.

Multinational seed and chemical corporations are lobbying for big changes that would affect farmers’ access to seed, the cost of seed, and about who has a say over future regulations – to benefit themselves at the expense of farmers and the public interest.

You can help create the pressure needed to keep Canada’s seed regulations working for farmers.

The CFIA’s Seed Regulatory Modernization Working Group will make recommendations for any changes to the regulations. There are opportunities for farmers to provide input and feedback to the process.

As an informed farmer, you can make a difference!

Spread the word! 

Learn about how today’s seed regulations work for farmers:

Click on the title or image to download a PDF version of each Fact Sheet.

2022-11-10 Cover Variety Registration

Variety Registration – This fact sheet will help you understand a key component of our seed system: Variety Registration. Canadian farmers buying seed can be confident that registered varieties perform well in our growing conditions, do not harbor serious plant diseases, and will produce crops our customers value all because they are independently assessed by experts. We know the variety’s characteristics, such as days to maturity, yield, disease resistance, height and other data relevant to the crop, are verified through independent testing with published results. Click here for the HTML version of the fact sheet.

Fact Sheet - Pedigreed and Common Seed

Pedigreed and Common Seed – This fact sheet will help you understand the differences and similarities between pedigreed seed and common seed, and their importance in our seed system. Both pedigreed and common seed are supported by Canada’s Seed Regulations, which have protected farmers for nearly 100 years. But this could soon change – and not necessarily for the benefit of farmers. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is currently leading a Seed Regulatory Modernization process that could bring in major changes to our system. Click here for the HTML version of the fact sheet.

Seed Imports and Exports – This fact sheet will help you understand Canada’s seed import and export rules. For major field crops, Canadian farmers and seed growers produce the majority of the seed required, however for vegetable seed Canada relies heavily on imported seed. For some field crops, imported seed is also significant. Learn how our current import and export rules work to protect farmers and to provide access to specialty seed that may only be available via importation. Click here for the HTML version of the fact sheet.

Fact Sheet - Seed Grade Tables

Seed Grade Tables –  This fact sheet will help you understand a key component of our seed system: Grade Tables. Canadian farmers buying pedigreed seed can be confident the seed’s grade is the result of an official third-party verification process authorized by the CFIA. The seed lot’s official Grade is printed on the blue tag attached to each bag of seed, and guarantees that the seed meets minimum standards for purity and germination. Click here for the HTML version of the fact sheet.

IBR Fact Sheet Cover

Incorporation by Reference – This fact sheet will help you understand how Incorporation by Reference (IBR) works as a regulatory tool, how it could be used in our seed regulatory system, and what this could mean for farmers. IBR is being proposed as a way to allow faster changes to the seed regulations in future. However, this increased speed can come at the cost of transparency and public accountability. Click here for the HTML version of the fact sheet.

A quick summary

2024 SRM Summary

This summary gives you a general overview on the Seed Regulatory Modernization review, why it matters, and what you can do about it. Canada’s Seed Regulations have created a strong foundation for our food system in the public interest. The Seed Regulations were designed to protect farmers from unscrupulous seed dealers, and from fraud and misrepresentation within the seed system. They ensure the value of our agricultural products for farmers and end-users with evidence-based and transparent processes for registering new varieties, certifying seeds, and updating regulations.

Further information:

Seed Regulatory Modernization – What’s it all about?

Much of Canadian farmers’ success results from over a century of operating within a seed regulatory system that was designed to promote quality crops, prevent serious disease problems, and protect farmers from fraud. While there have been some changes to these regulations over the years, the basic purpose and structure of our seed regulations has remained constant over the entire lifetimes of today’s farmers. Our regulations have served us well, but if big seed corporations have their way, all this will change. The federal government’s Seed Regulatory Modernization process currently underway is a critical crossroads where global corporations seeking to control Canada’s seed for their own benefit are challenging our public interest-based seed regulatory framework.

Read more