Provisional Standards Policy

1. BACKGROUND

As Canada’s national seed crop certification authority, CSGA is responsible for both establishing and administering varietal certification requirements and standards for most agriculture field crops. CSGA has a robust standards development framework and process guided by the Standards Development, Maintenance and Oversight Policy. Multi-stakeholder participation and transparency are fundamental principles driving the development and review of CSGA standards.

From time to time, new technologies or new crop types arise and stakeholders may request that standards be developed or modified to accommodate them. Initially, CSGA and the proponents may not have sufficient information to be able to propose standards with sufficient confidence to consider them “final”. It may be desirable to implement “provisional standards” for a limited time to generate the necessary evidence and gain experience before final determination of the certification requirements.

2. PURPOSE AND SCOPE

This policy defines the process for addressing and implementing provisional standards (certification requirements) as set out in the Canadian Regulations and Procedures for Pedigreed Seed Crop Production and the Canadian Breeder Seed Requirements.

Provisional standards refer to time-limited certification requirements to address a specified need that:

1) have been reviewed by the Regulatory Services Committee, and 2) approved by the CSGA’s Board of Directors to generate information and gain experience in response to new technologies or crop types.

This policy ensures the integrity of CSGA’s standards development process, while allowing for flexibility in maintaining up-to-date standards, providing seed crop certification services and ensuring trust and confidence in Canada’s seed certification system.

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) shall be informed, and the provisional certification requirements shall only be implemented if the CFIA does not object.

3. PRINCIPLES

• Integrity and Compliance: The standards will be based on the best available information and be informed through consultation with technical experts.
• Transparency and Stakeholder Engagement: A transparent public notification process will be followed to inform stakeholders and provide the opportunity for stakeholder feedback. The provisional standards will be clearly identified as such, with clear statements referring to their temporary nature and purpose.
• Agility: This policy is designed to address technical requirements in a manner that provides flexibility while providing confidence that seed produced pursuant the provisional standard is fit-for-purpose.

4. DEFINITION OF PROVISION STANDARDS

Provisional standards may include:

• Standards in respect of previous land use, isolation, species purity, varietal purity, crop inspection frequency and timing, and age of stand limitations for perennial species for seed crop

• Standards and procedures for non-traditional certification services (e.g., native seed or heritage/heirloom varieties).

• New techniques or procedures in respect of seed crop inspection or testing seed for varietal identity or varietal purity certification purposes.

• New techniques or procedures in respect of reporting inspection results or seed test results for varietal identity or varietal purity certification purposes.

5. GOVERNANCE AND OVERSIGHT

The responsibilities for governance and oversight include:

• Regulatory Services Committee – Reviews proposed provisional standards and recommends them to the Board of Directors for approval.

• Board of Directors – Reviews this policy at least every two years or sooner if Confirms that proposed provisional standards meet the policy criteria and provides final approval.

• Executive Director – Notifies stakeholders of proposed revisions, oversees the implementation of the provisional standards and keeps the Board informed of progress.

Provisional standards shall be limited to three years initially but may be extended with the approval of the Board.

6. PUBLIC NOTIFICATION PROCESS

To ensure transparency, the following steps will be taken:

• Website Posting: Provisional standards will be posted on the CSGA website for a minimum 45-day public comment period.
• Stakeholder Notification: Stakeholders will be notified via CSGA’s newsletter, targeted emails, or other communications channels.
• Review of Feedback: The Regulatory Services Committee will review all feedback received during the public comment period. If no significant objections are raised, the Committee will recommend approval by the Board of Directors.

7. RELATED POLICY INSTRUMENTS

• CSGA Standards Development, Maintenance and Oversight
• CSGA Certification Administration and Oversight