October 24, 2022

Join Us! Learn About How We Develop Our Standards

Everyone knows CSGA provides the national seed crop certification program for Canada. But did you know that our standards development process is also a core function

Following our recent news blast on CSGA standards development, we invite you to join us Tuesday, November 8, from 2 pm – 3 pm ET for an informative standards webinar. Learn more about our standard setting principles and the diversity of value chain stakeholders involved in our committees and expert working groups. We will also discuss opportunities for the continued modernization of CSGA’s standard development process through CSGA 2.0 concepts, such as a Multi-Stakeholder Advisory Committee and external appointments to CSGA Committees. Find out how you can get involved!

The webinar will be presented in English, with French interpretation provided. Register now! 

Consultation Now Open on Proposed Breeder Seed Regulations Changes

CSGA is committed to ensuring the benefits of plant breeding innovations are realized through quality Breeder seed for the benefit of Canadian agriculture.

The Canadian Regulations and Procedures for Breeder Seed Crop Production describe the requirements related to CSGA recognition of plant breeders, Breeder seed crop production, and the approval of Breeder seed. These regulations are now being reviewed, and we are looking for stakeholder input on potential revisions through public consultation. Following the consultation period, the Regulatory Services Committee will present final recommendations to the Board of Directors in March 2023.

How to Participate

Your feedback is greatly appreciated as it helps maintain an agile and up-to-date seed crop certification system. The consultation period is open until January 15, 2023.

Stakeholders are invited to provide feedback on proposed revisions by email, calling 613-236-0497, ext. 227 or by completing a 10-minute online survey. All responses are strictly confidential and will be presented only in aggregate.

This December, CSGA will also be hosting informational webinars on the proposed regulation changes. Stay tuned for more details.

Proposed Changes to the Breeder Seed Regulations

• Clarifying the authority of recognized plant breeders (RPBs) and associate plant breeders (APBs) and permitting APBs to perform certain activities if the RPB overseeing the APB specifically authorizes them to do so, e.g., complete an Application for a Breeder Seed Crop Certificate (Form 43).
• Making completion of the CSGA Learn Plant Breeder Program a mandatory requirement for individuals applying for recognition for both the RPB and APB classifications.
• Simplifying the quality management system “audit frequency” requirements and requiring an audit be completed every five (5) years.
• Requiring a formal “application for approval” to obtain some basic information (e.g., year of production and location where the seed was produced) for all Breeder seed not certified by CSGA used to plant seed crops for certification in Canada where Select, Foundation, Registered or Certified seed is being produced.
• Introducing a minimum standard for varietal purity of Breeder seed equivalent to the Foundation standard.
• Introducing a minimum standard for mechanical purity for Breeder seed equivalent to the standard for Canada Certified No. 1.
• Revising the Application for a Breeder Seed Crop Certificate (F43) to include a declaration from the applicant that the Breeder seed harvested from the plot had been tested for diseases observed in the plot, with the addition of several diseases to the list of diseases where there is sufficient risk of the disease being transmitted by seed to warrant testing, rather than always requiring disease test results for those kinds/diseases.

Full details on the proposed revisions are available here.

Don't Forget, Consultation on Circular 6 Changes is Open!

CSGA is requesting feedback on changes proposed to the Canadian Regulations and Procedures for Pedigreed Seed Crop Production (Circular 6) before a final recommendation is presented to the Board.

This year the Regulatory Services Committee is recommending several revisions to Circular 6 based on input from the Forage and Turf, Pulse, and Soybean working groups. Complete details are available here. Final recommendations will be made to the Board of Directors later this fall.

You are invited to provide feedback by email or by calling 613-236-0497, ext. 227 until Monday, November 7, 2022, on these proposed Circular 6 changes. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!