CANADA: PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE SEEDS REGULATIONS The following notification is being circulated in accordance with Article 10.6. G/TBT/Notif.96.455. 1. Member to Agreement notifying: CANADA. If applicable, name of local government involved (Articles 3.2 and 7.2). 2. Agency responsible: Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada. Agency or authority designated to handle comments regarding the notification can be indicated if different from above. 3. Notified under Article 2.9.2. 4. Products covered (HS or CCCN where applicable, otherwise national tariff heading. ICS numbers may be provided in addition, where applicable): Seeds. 5. Title, number of pages and language(s) of the notified document: Proposed Amendment to the Seeds Regulations (pages 3350-3355). 6. Description of content: The current amendment reduces the number of crop series and varieties for which registration is required. Following the recommendation of the 1992 Regulatory Review that suggested narrowing the range of species for which variety registration is required, the Department developed a set of criteria to be met by the species for which registration is required, as well as a proposed list of species to be retained. These criteria are: The availability of clear, objective merit criteria for the species; the ability of the seed purchaser to select the desired variety in the marketplace and the impact of an incorrect variety selection; the scale of culture and economic importance of the species in question, including the importance of adequate and consistent quality and commodity supplies; the presence of economically important diseases for which resistant varieties are the primary or only method of control; the need for the end-product to be of a specific quality and/or the need to address food safety issues; and the requirement that, if a variety name is to be used in association with seed, the seed must be pedigreed through the seed certification process. 7. Objective and rationale: Reducing barriers to trade. 8. Relevant documents: Canada Gazette, Part 1, 30 November 1996. 9. Proposed date of adoption: Not stated; Proposed date of entry into force: Not stated. 10. Final date for comments: 30 December 1996. 11. Texts available from: National enquiry point or address and telefax number of other body: (0023)

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