Have your say: Modernization of Canada's crop
variety registration system
The Government of Canada has committed to a
transformational shift in
Canadian agricultural policy, with a renewed
emphasis on research and
innovation, competitiveness and market
development. We continue to make
efforts to reduce unnecessary regulatory burden
as part of our commitment to
a science-based regulatory framework that
promotes research and innovation
and allows for an efficient, transparent and
predictable interaction between
government and industry.
To this end, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
(AAFC), the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Canadian
Grain Commission (CGC) have
collaborated on an Options Paper that describes
the current crop variety
registration (VR) system in Canada and outlines
some potential options for
modernizing and streamlining the system.
A responsive and efficient seed and grain
regulatory system is needed to
maximize Canadian farmers' ability to compete on
a global stage. The crop
sector is currently undergoing a positive
transformation, including changes
to the marketing and end uses of crops, shifts in
research investment
priorities and funding, and streamlining
regulations.
Four potential options are presented in the
Options paper, with varying
levels of direct involvement and oversight by crop
value chains and the
federal government.
These options should be considered in a medium
term context and
complementary to the Minister of Agriculture and
Agri-Food's February 2013
letter. In that letter, the Minister requested that
crop variety
Recommending Committees (RC) review their
operating procedures to identify
and potentially implement measures, as
appropriate and applicable, to
streamline the way they operate. Changes to RC
operating procedures are
expected to be implemented by early 2014.
To obtain a copy of the Options paper and to
provide feedback, we encourage
you to go to AAFC Online
http://www.agr.gc.ca/CropVR, where there are
currently a few short questions posted to help
capture your feedback. The
online form will be available until November 30,
2013.
variety registration system
The Government of Canada has committed to a
transformational shift in
Canadian agricultural policy, with a renewed
emphasis on research and
innovation, competitiveness and market
development. We continue to make
efforts to reduce unnecessary regulatory burden
as part of our commitment to
a science-based regulatory framework that
promotes research and innovation
and allows for an efficient, transparent and
predictable interaction between
government and industry.
To this end, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
(AAFC), the Canadian Food
Inspection Agency (CFIA) and the Canadian
Grain Commission (CGC) have
collaborated on an Options Paper that describes
the current crop variety
registration (VR) system in Canada and outlines
some potential options for
modernizing and streamlining the system.
A responsive and efficient seed and grain
regulatory system is needed to
maximize Canadian farmers' ability to compete on
a global stage. The crop
sector is currently undergoing a positive
transformation, including changes
to the marketing and end uses of crops, shifts in
research investment
priorities and funding, and streamlining
regulations.
Four potential options are presented in the
Options paper, with varying
levels of direct involvement and oversight by crop
value chains and the
federal government.
These options should be considered in a medium
term context and
complementary to the Minister of Agriculture and
Agri-Food's February 2013
letter. In that letter, the Minister requested that
crop variety
Recommending Committees (RC) review their
operating procedures to identify
and potentially implement measures, as
appropriate and applicable, to
streamline the way they operate. Changes to RC
operating procedures are
expected to be implemented by early 2014.
To obtain a copy of the Options paper and to
provide feedback, we encourage
you to go to AAFC Online
http://www.agr.gc.ca/CropVR, where there are
currently a few short questions posted to help
capture your feedback. The
online form will be available until November 30,
2013.