T-4-109 - Legume Inoculants and Pre-inoculated Seed

September 1997

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Legume Inoculants and Pre-Inoculated Seeds are regulated under the Fertilizers Act. The Fertilizers Regulations require legume Inoculants to be registered prior to being imported into, or sold in Canada.

Pre-inoculated seed does not require registration. Both types of product are subject to the regulations which specify standards (Section 10.2), and labelling requirements [Section 15(i), 18(1), 18(2), 19, 19.1 and 21.1].

STANDARDS

When rhizobial inoculants are applied to the seed according to label directions, each seed must carry the specific number of viable cells per seed shown in Table I [Section 10.2(1.1)].

Other seeds not listed, but of similar size to those listed below, have the same requirements.

Rhizobial inoculants that are present in granular formulations, that are applied in the seed furrow and that are intended for use on peas, beans, soybeans or seeds of a similar size, must provide a minimum of 10¹¹ viable cells per hectare, when used according to the directions for use on the label.

Any contaminant organisms present in the inoculants must not have any detrimental effect on the active species.

Any treatment of seed with inoculants must not interfere with the commonly used seeding rates.

LABELLING

Legume Inoculants must show the following information on the label:

• Brand
• Name of the supplement
• Net Weight of the supplement
• Lot Number
• Expiry Date of the supplement
• Directions for Use
• Registration Number
• Guaranteed Analysis
• Cautionary Statements
• Name and Address of registrant or responsible packager

PRE-INOCULATED

The directions for use and the guaranteed analysis are not required on the label if the following statement is included:

"This product is treated with (species name or genus of the active micro-organism) inoculum."

GUARANTEED ANALYSIS

The number of viable cells of the active genus and, where known, the species, must be guaranteed as a minimum number per gram of product. e.g.;
Guarantee: This inoculant contains a minimum of 200 million viable cells of Rhizobium meliloti.

By agreement, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada strains must be identified on the label (e.g., NRG-185 and Balsac)

MONITORING

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency carries out a National Legume Inoculant and Pre-Inoculated Seed Testing Program. Each year, approximately 200 samples of these products are analyzed to ensure they meet the standards set out in the Fertilizers Regulations. Since 1992, the results of these analyses are published and made available to interested parties. Prior to publication, the information pertaining to the samples is verified with the company's records.

If you wish to obtain a copy of these results, please contact the Canadian Food Inspection Agency at the following address:

Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Plant Health and Biosecurity Directorate
Crop Inputs Division
Fertilizer Section
59 Camelot Drive
Ottawa, Ontario
K1A 0Y9
Canada
Telephone: 613-221-7519
Facsimile: 613-228-4552

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This version replaces trade memorandum T-4-109, dated October 1992.

(Administrative changes made September 1997 to reflect changeover to Canadian Food Inspection Agency, April 1, 1997.)