Originally published July 29, 2025, on the Government of Canada website.

Current status: Open

This consultation is open from July 29, 2025 and will close on October 3, 2025.

About this consultation

The purpose of this consultation is to inform stakeholders on the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA’s) direction to modernize Parts I, III and IV of the Seeds Regulations. We will consider your feedback before publishing the draft amendments to the Seeds Regulations in Canada Gazette, Part I (CGI) for comment.

The CFIA is looking to update the Seeds Regulations to:

  • improve responsiveness and consistency
  • reduce complexity
  • become adaptable and flexible to address future technical advances and scientific innovation
  • protect producers and consumers by strengthening existing requirements

As such the proposed changes are categorized into 3 main themes:

  • reducing red-tape and administrative burden
  • supporting marketplace competitiveness and innovation
  • protecting farmers, consumers and the environment

Although this consultation focusses on getting your feedback on the policy direction, we also welcome your early feedback on the costs and benefits of these policy decisions.

This consultation does not include proposals specific to seed potatoes or Part II of the Seeds Regulations.

How to participate

Consult Future-proofing Canada’s Seeds Regulations for a stronger tomorrow: Proposals to modernize Canada’s seed regulatory framework and share your thoughts by:

Who is the focus of this consultation

We are seeking comments from:

  • associations, businesses and other organizations in the farming, seed and grain industries
  • farmers
  • seed growers
  • seed labs and analysts
  • seed developers
  • seed conditioners
  • general public
  • others who have an interest on the CFIA’s proposed direction

Next steps

The CFIA will:

  • publish a report about what we heard from this consultation in early 2026
  • seek out targeted stakeholder input prior to publishing draft regulatory amendments in the CGI to help assess the impacts, such as expected compliance costs, administrative burden, and benefits. The information gathered will assist in the development of the regulatory impact analysis statement.
  • publish draft amendments to the Seeds Regulations in Canada Gazette, Part I for comment based on the timelines in the CFIA’s forward regulatory plan.

More information

Engaging with Indigenous communities and Nations on the modernization of the Seeds Regulations
Information on the engagement that specifically targets indigenous communities and Nations.

Canada’s current seed regulatory framework – seed regulatory modernization
Information on the current seed regulatory framework, including the current regulations, standards and policies, key players involved within each stage of the seed regulatory lifecycle.

Seed regulatory modernization
Purpose and scope of the modernization, working groups and tag teams, consultation activities, and next steps.

Contact us

For any questions about this consultation, send us an email: cfia.seedregmod-modregsem.acia@inspection.gc.ca