The agency says it remains focused on science-based regulation and plans to publish updated Seeds Regulations in 2026.
Seed Regulatory Modernization (SRM) is expected to move forward as planned despite recent budget reductions at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), according to a statement from provided to Seed World Canada.
The CFIA, like other federal departments, has identified savings as part of the Government of Canada’s Comprehensive Expenditure Review. While the cuts have raised questions across the agriculture sector, CFIA said it has prioritized protecting front-line inspection capacity, emergency readiness, and its core mandate.
“From the outset, the agency set out to protect front-line inspection capacity and emergency readiness and remain focused on our core mandate of food safety, animal and plant health, science, and enabling international trade,” CFIA said in a statement provided to Seed World.
CFIA Budget Reductions Focused on Efficiencies
According to CFIA, budget reductions are being implemented through targeted changes to program delivery, operational efficiencies, and reinvestments in front-line capacity, rather than broad reductions to core services.
CFIA will remain focused on key priorities, including protecting food safety, managing animal and plant health risks, using sound science and evidence, prioritizing actions based on risk and impact, maintaining strong emergency readiness, and supporting businesses by enabling trade through clear and predictable regulation.
However, CFIA did not confirm whether the budget reductions will affect employees working within the seed regulatory section, leaving some uncertainty for stakeholders monitoring the modernization process.
Seeds Regulations Timeline Remains Unchanged
Despite questions around staffing impacts, CFIA still expects to publish the proposed updated Seeds Regulations in the Canada Gazette, Part I in 2026. The proposed regulations will be subject to a public comment period, allowing stakeholders across the seed sector to provide feedback.
Once comments are received and analyzed, the finalized updated Seeds Regulations would be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, along with a defined implementation date.
For Canada’s seed industry, the confirmation offers reassurance that Seed Regulatory Modernization remains a priority, even as the CFIA navigates federal cost-saving measures.
Below is the full statement provided to Seed World:
Like other federal departments, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) has identified savings as part of the Government of Canada’s Comprehensive Expenditure Review.
From the outset, the agency set out to protectfront-line inspection capacity and emergency readiness and remain focused on our core mandate of food safety, animal and plant health, science, and enabling international trade.
The reductions reflect these principles and focus on targeted changes to program delivery, operational efficiencies, and reinvestments in front-line capacity.
The CFIA will remain focused on:
- protecting food safety
- managing animal and plant health risks
- using sound science and evidence
- prioritizing actions based on risk and impact
- maintaining strong emergency readiness
- supporting businesses and enabling trade through clear, predictable regulation
The CFIA expects to publish the proposed updated Seeds Regulations in the Canada Gazette, Part I, in 2026. These proposed updated regulations will be open to public comments for a specific period. After the feedback is received an analyzed, the updated Seeds Regulations will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II, with a specific implementation date.
