2011 Soybean Seed Crop Inspection Pilot Project

General information

Q1  Who is organizing this research pilot project?

Since August 2010, development of this pilot project has been guided by the Seed Industry-Government Working Group (IGWG). The Seed IGWG is working together to explore options for the most efficient and effective seed certification in Canada. Members of the Seed IGWG include

• Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)
• Canadian Seed Growers' Association (CSGA)
• Canadian Seed Institute (CSI)
• Canadian Seed Trade Association (CSTA)

Q2  Why does the CFIA want to explore options for changing the seed certification process in Canada?

The CFIA is committed to continually improving service delivery and maximizing the effectiveness of all its programs.

Q3  Will this pilot project affect the CFIA's role in seed certification?

No. Regardless of the outcome of this pilot project, the CFIA will continue to retain overall responsibility for seed certification in Canada, including

• doing check inspections,
• monitoring, and
• auditing all seed crop inspection activities.

Q4  How will seed crop inspection be done during the project?

This research project is an expansion of the authorized seed crop inspection programs that have been working for more than ten years for Certified hybrid corn in Ontario and Certified hybrid canola in Alberta. Under these programs, individuals are trained, evaluated and licensed as inspectors by the CFIA, and work under CFIA oversight. In both of these examples, the CFIA continues to be responsible for oversight and verification of the system to check compliance with requirements. The companies are also subject to a quality systems audit each year.

Q5  Which companies will be performing the authorized seed crop inspection services for this project?

1. Second-party inspection model: Pioneer Hi-Bred Ltd.
   • Pioneer Hi-Bred employees will inspect fields producing Certified soybean crops with crop certificates assigned to Pioneer Hi-Bred.
2. Third-party inspection model: 20/20 Seed Labs Inc.
   • Independent third-party seed crop inspectors will inspect approximately 60 fields producing Certified soybean crops that are not assigned to Pioneer Hi-Bred.

Q6  What is the role of the CFIA in this project?

The CFIA will train, evaluate and license the second-party and third-party authorized seed crop inspectors. They will work under CFIA oversight.

The CFIA will retain responsibility for monitoring and auditing all seed crop inspection activities, including the crops in this project.

Q7  Will all fields in the Chatham and London districts be included in the project?

No. Only some fields producing Certified soybean crops will be included in the pilot project.

CFIA inspectors will continue to inspect soybeans planted with Breeder, Select and Foundation status seed.

Locations and number of fields included in the project will be finalized in early August.

Q8  Are all seed growers in Chatham and London being considered for this project?

Any seed grower in the London and Chatham areas who planted Registered status soybean seed, and who submitted an Application for Crop Inspection and Membership in the Canadian Seed Growers' Association, is considered eligible for this project.

Q9  Will this soybean pilot be expanded in 2012?

The Seed IGWG will review and evaluate the results of this pilot project to determine next steps.

Grower Information

Q10  How will I know if my Certified soybean crops are in this project?

A notice will be sent to all growers in this research project.

Before crops are inspected, growers will also be contacted by an authorized crop inspector.

Q11  Will there be additional costs for growers?

No, there will be no additional costs.

Q12  How much notice should be provided for crop inspection?

Notification should be sent at least 48 hours before you want to harvest. Please note that it is very important to include a detailed map with the application so the inspector can find the field to be inspected.

Q13  What happens after the crop inspection?

After the crop inspection is complete, the authorized crop inspector will send the report to the CFIA. It will be reviewed and then released to the grower.

To reduce possible delays, growers need to provide fax and email information on their Application for Crop Inspection and Membership in the Canadian Seed Growers' Association.

Q14  Should I harvest my crop before receiving the inspection report?

No. Before harvesting, you should always wait until you have received your crop inspection report and have confirmed that no corrective actions are required.

Q15  How will the CFIA monitor these crop inspections?

The CFIA will be doing check inspections on some of the crops in this project. So some crops will be inspected by both the authorized crop inspector and a CFIA inspector.

Q16  What is a check inspection?

A check inspection is an inspection by a CFIA inspector that is done within one or two days of the inspection done by the authorized inspector.

The CFIA check inspection follows normal inspection procedures and the results are compared with those reported by the authorized inspector.

Reports of check inspections will be shared with the CSGA and will be a major performance indicator for the authorized inspector.

Q17  What happens if the CFIA finds a problem during a check inspection?

If the problem requires corrective action that was not identified in the authorized crop inspector's report, then the CFIA will provide the grower with a copy of the check inspection report and will advise the grower to contact the CSGA to determine next steps.

Q18  How will suspected problems during crop inspection be handled?

There are no changes to how suspected problems are addressed.

If an authorized crop inspector suspects a problem with the isolation of a crop, the grower will receive a notice that official verification of isolation corrective actions may be required. Other problems will be communicated to CSGA and growers through the crop inspection report.

If a re-inspection is requested by the grower, this would be completed by the CFIA.

Q19  For more information on this crop inspection research project, whom should I contact?

More information is available from the pilot project coordinator, Mr. Kipton Zavitz, Chatham District Office of the CFIA

• by phone: 519-436-3133
• by email: kipton.zavitz@inspection.gc.ca