b"CSGA SPONSORED CONTENTWhat Needs to Change and HowTHE VISION FOR REGULATORY CHANGEA WORD FROMCAROLINE LAFONTAINE, SEED CERTIFICATIONCSGA CHIEF OPERATING Recommendation: CSGAs delegated authority should be expanded to OFFICER include certification of Foundation, Registered and Certified seed.There are strong alignments betweenCSGA is the regulatory authority for the certification of seed the federal governments regulatorycrops and varietal purity standards for seed. While the CFIA is currently policy positions and CSGAs vision onresponsible for the certification of Foundation, Registered and Certified modernizing Canada's seed certificationseed, CSGA is responsible for certifying Breeder and Select seed. If CSGA were responsible for all five seed classes, taking a more system. Concepts like incorporationprominent role in the seed certification process, the day-to-day admin-by reference are front-and-centre at aistration of the seed certification system would rest with CSGA, with the government-wide level. There is generalCFIA having a supervisory and support role. Expanding CSGA's role to recognition that regulations cannot moveinclude all seed classes would provide single-window services and sup-at the speed of business.port for stakeholders through one regulatory body. The regulatory process can't keep upRecommendation: The Seeds Regulations should recognize CSGA to with the pace of innovation. What wereestablish technical requirements for seed certification in Canada.suggesting here is directly in line withIt is both difficult and expensive to amend regulations, given what Canada needs to do to modernizethe current federal regulatory process. Science, technology, and business its regulatory system to meet futurechange faster than government can respond. Seed certification require-needs.ments need to be agile and responsive to this rapid change. Today, CSGA Perhaps most importantly, our goalsets national standards for seed crop certification. In the future, CSGA is to present a blueprint for the next- should also establish the technical requirements for the certification of generation seed certification systemseed for all agricultural crops in Canada, except for seed potatoes.that delivers the high-quality, trustworthyTechnical details about seed certification, including sampling, test-ing, and labelling, can be put into a document for which CSGA would be seed products that underpin Canadianresponsible. This document would have the full effect of a regulation but agriculture.would be easier to adjust to keep up with the modern pace of technology and business. CSGAs Regulatory Services Committee, which reviews and recom-mends science-based certification requirements (Circular 6), has seed grower representatives from across the country and includes seed trade, seed analysts and CFIA representatives. Additionally, CSGA relies on WHAT IS INCORPORATIONcrop-specific working groups to provide expert advisory and consultation BY REFERENCE? resources. These crop-specific experts include company representatives and plant breeders from across the country who participate in open and Incorporation by reference is a usefultransparent dialogue on changes in seed crop certification requirements.procedural tool used to make the contentA similar approach for establishing or renewing technical require-or text of an incorporated document a partments for seed certification would ensure the system is efficient and of a formal regulation. There is no need toeffective, maintains competitiveness and facilitates market access. reproduce the document in the regulationDIGITALIZATIONitself. Incorporation by reference is a nimbleRecommendation: The seed certification system should be digital way to tweak technical requirements, makeend-to-end to facilitate a single-window approach to regulatory the process for change more efficient andservices delivery.reduce the time and expense it takes to makeThe current process for a seed professional to access services and fulfill changes. regulatory obligations is inefficient and does not leverage technology. 26GERMINATION.CAJULY 2021"