Seed Program

The Seed Program of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), under the Seeds Act, is specifically designed to ensure that seeds sold in, imported into and exported from Canada meet established standards for quality (including varietal purity and germination), and are labelled so that they are properly represented in the marketplace.

In the case of most agricultural crop varieties, CFIA must verify that seeds are registered prior to sale in Canada.

The Seed Section is the Registrar for both variety registration and registered seed establishment programs.

Eligibility Criteria

The Seed Program applies to all growers, wholesalers and retailers who import, export or sell seed.

Summary

The major activities undertaken by CFIA staff under this program include:

• developing seed standards;
• registering and inspecting seed establishments;
• accrediting seed graders;
• licensing seed operators; and
• developing training materials to help ensure seeds sold in, imported to and exported from Canada meet established standards for quality and are properly labelled.

Quebec Contact(s):
Regional Director, Montreal East
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Room 600
7101 Jean-Talon Street East
Anjou, Quebec  H1M 3N7
Telephone: 514-493-8859
Fax: 514-493-9965
Toll-free (information): 1-800-442-2342
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-465-7735
Web site: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/toce.shtml

Regional Director, Montreal West
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Room 1450
2021 Union Street
Montréal, Quebec  H3A 2S9
Telephone: 514-283-8982
Fax: 514-283-1855
Toll-free (information): 1-800-442-2342
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-465-7735
Web site: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/toce.shtml

Regional Director, Saint-Hyacinthe
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Suite 206
3100 Laframboise Boulevard
Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec  J2S 4Z4
Telephone: 450-773-6639
Fax: 450-774-8522
Toll-free (information): 1-800-442-2342
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-465-7735
Web site: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/toce.shtml

Regional Director, Québec
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Suite 100
Place Iberville IV
2954 Laurier Boulevard
Ste-Foy, Quebec  G1V 5C7
Telephone: 418-648-7373
Fax: 418-648-4792
Toll-free (information): 1-800-442-2342
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-465-7735
Web site: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/toce.shtml

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National Contact(s):
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
59 Camelot Drive
Nepean, Ontario  K1A 0Y9
Telephone: 613-225-2342
Fax: 613-228-6601
Toll-free (information): 1-800-442-2342
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-465-7735
Web site: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/toce.shtml
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time).