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Notice to industry - Use of the PPQ 925 seed analysis certificate by Canadian exporters shipping Canadian-origin seed to the United States

November 27, 2018

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) would like to remind Canadian seed exporters how to correctly use PPQ 925 seed analysis certificates when shipping seed to the United States.

The United States currently accepts PPQ 925 seed analysis certificates issued by Canadian seed testing laboratories. The PPQ 925 certificate is recognized by the United States Department of Agriculture as certification that agricultural or vegetable seed of Canadian or U.S. origin meets U.S. federal noxious weed seed import requirements. This certificate is also recognized as one of the two types of seed analysis certificates that support the use of the seed export label (CFIA/ACIA 5309) under the Canadian Phytosanitary Certification Program for Seed.

While recognized laboratories are responsible for issuing this certificate in accordance with established procedures, exporters are responsible for applying for the certificate and using it correctly.

The United States Department of Agriculture – Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (USDA-APHIS) has provided the CFIA with a list of non-compliances related to misuses of PPQ 925 seed analysis certificates. The list was compiled between January 2017 and March 2018 and it identifies irregularities in over 550 separate Canadian seed export transactions. USDA-APHIS is concerned about these misuses and, as a result, is considering no longer accepting the PPQ 925 certificate.

To improve overall compliance and increase the confidence of USDA-APHIS that Canadian exporters' seed analysis certificates are valid, the CFIA is undertaking a compliance promotion program to highlight the importance of correctly using the PPQ 925 certificate. As part of these activities, the CFIA will be conducting compliance verification audits of exporters who may have incorrectly used this certificate in the past.

When shipping Canadian-origin seed to the United States, Canadian exporters must ensure that:

The CFIA will continue to work with associations and organizations, including the Canadian Seed Trade Association, the Canadian Seed Institute, and seed exporters, as well as Canadian seed testing laboratories recognized by USDA-APHIS, to improve compliance and reinforce the importance of correct use of the PPQ 925 seed analysis certificates when shipping seed to the United States.

Additional information

For more information, please contact the Grains and Oilseed Section, Plant Protection Division of the CFIA at cfiagrainsandoilseeds@inspection.gc.ca.

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