An Analysis of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s “Proposal to Facilitate the Modernization of the Seed Regulator Framework”

On October 4, 2006, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) posted a notice on its website ( www.inspection.gc.ca ) that it had begun a 60-day consultation period on its “Proposal to Facilitate the Modernization of the Seed Regulatory Framework.” The CFIA’s Proposals have implications for all Canadians. These Proposals will affect the types of foods Canadians grow and eat and may partially determine whether certain new genetically-modified (GM) crop varieties are cultivated and consumed here. This paper will focus on the many measures contained in the CFIA’s Proposal that will harm farmers—that will increase the power and control of seed companies and thereby increase farmers’ seed costs.