Canada's crop variety registration system is under review

Wednesday, October 2, 2013

by SUSAN MANN

The federal government is reviewing the crop variety registration system in Canada and people have until Nov. 30 to send in their comments.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and the Canadian Grain Commission have collaborated to develop a document outlining the current crop variety registration system in Canada and options for streamlining and modernizing it. People can comment by completing the crop variety registration questionnaire online.

The document outlining options to the current system and how to comment are available on the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada website at: http://www.agr.gc.ca/eng/about-us/public-opinion-and-consultations/crop-variety-registration-engagement/?id=1374781777067 .

Comments after the Nov. 30 date won’t be accepted. In addition, comments must be directly related to the variety registration system and its relationship to related systems, such as grain quality and seed certification, otherwise they won’t be accepted either, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada’s notice says. BF