Authorized Importers - Notification and Documentation Requirements

Authorized Importers must provide their Authorized Importer number along with the Request for Release Approval Form at the time of importation.

Authorized Importers are required to inform their local CFIA office of the importation within 30 days of importation. They must provide the information required by subsection 40 (3) of the Seeds Regulations. This information includes the:

  1. name of the kind or species of seed;
  2. quantity of seed;
  3. variety name of the seed for all kinds, species and varieties subject to registration pursuant to Part III, other than common seed of forage crops;
  4. lot designation of the seed;
  5. name and address of the exporter; and
  6. name and address of the importer
  7. country where the crop from which the seed is derived was grown;
  8. telephone number of the importer; and
  9. intended purposes of the imported seed.

Authorized Importers are not required to supply CFIA with certificates of analysis or seed import release decisions.

Authorized Importers are required to conduct an import conformity assessment.

  1. If the seed meets the minimum importation requirements, the seed is released. Authorized Importer operators are required to retain a copy of the seed import release decision and supporting documentation for one year after the final disposition of the seed in the case of non-pedigreed and Certified seed and for two years after the final disposition of the seed in the case of Foundation and Registered status seed.
  2. If the seed does not meet import requirements, the Authorized Importer communicates with the local CFIA office to arrange for appropriate corrective action or disposal.

The CFIA wishes to clarify that:

  1. Graders who are accredited to grade seed of species in Tables I - VI are considered accredited to grade seed of species in Table XVIII.
  2. GI graders accredited to issue release decisions on crops in Tables I - VI also may issue release decisions for crops listed in table XVIII.
  3. Table XVIII applies to vegetable type beans, sweet corn, pop corn and garden peas, even when they are intended to be grown on large acreages for commercial canning, freezing and processing purposes. This clarification results from confusion over the Table header which indicates that table applies for kinds when not intended for agricultural field crop production.

Pursuant to section 40(5), flowers (single species of high value, high quality ornamentals) may be imported without meeting the requirements outlined in subsections 40 (1) to 40 (4). Seed standards still apply.

Wildflowers and wildflower mixtures are not exempt from subsections 40(1) to 40(4).

The CFIA intends to closely monitor the import of seed into Canada as seed can serve as a vector for weeds and potentially invasive plants. Authorized Importers provide an important 'gate keeping' role in ensuring that seed from foreign origins are free of prohibited noxious weeds and meets Canada's seed standards.

CSI - Authorized Importer (AI)