Imported seeds to get advanced clearance

Tuesday, November 29, 2011

by BETTER FARMING STAFF

Approved seed coming to Canadian farmers through the United States will pass through the border more quickly because of improved seed import procedures.

Effective immediately, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency can complete the conformity assessment and issue the required documents in advance for all imported seed that meets Canadian import requirements. When the shipment arrives at the border and is verified, the seed can continue to its destination.

John Cowan, vice-president of strategic development for the Grain Farmers of Ontario said the new procedures will improve access to seed from Chile and Argentina.

“Where it really runs into a problem is the last-minute material that comes through the U.S.,” Cowan said. “Quite often it’s southern hemisphere production destined for Canada but it lands in a port in either Miami or Philadelphia and then comes up through the States and, at that time of year, it’s critical that we get it as soon as we can so we can get to the field with it in a lot of cases.”

Cowan said Chile and Argentina are used by Canadian seed producers to produce seed during our winter. “It’s generally new technology, new varieties, new hybrids,” he said. BF