The following responses are provided by the Canada Food Inspection Agency in regard to general questions about the Canada Seed Act.

VARIETY LABELING
Does your seed law require "mandatory" variety labeling for agricultural crop kinds?
Answer = NO, For most crops, the answer is no. The exception is field corn because, in Canada, only pedigreed seed of field corn may be sold. Pedigreed seed requires a variety name.

If no, does your law allow for "variety not stated" labeling?
Answer = NO, The use of this term could not be prohibited for non-pedigreed seed

If no, does your law allow for "variety unknown" labeling?
Answer = NO, The use of this term could not be prohibited for non-pedigreed seed

If the variety name is not declared on the label, does your law allow labeling by "crop kind" only?
Answer = YES

Do you allow the use of the abbreviated term "VNS" to be used in place of the phrase "variety not stated"?
Answer = NO

BRAND LABELING
Does your law allow for "brand name" labeling?
Answer = YES, but only if the brand name can not be confused as being a variety name.

PRE-EMPTION LEGISLATION
Does your country have "pre-emption" legislation to restrict local political subdivisions from regulating seed?
Answer = NO

PERMIT / LICENSE REQUIREMENTS
Does your law have a permit/license requirement for seedsmen to distribute seeds in your state/country?
Answer = NO

TEST DATE
What is the test date requirement for agricultural and vegetable seeds in your state/country?
Answer = NONE

ARBITRATION
Does your country offer "Seed Arbitration" as a part of your seed law, or as a separate law?
Answer = NO

GMO REGULATIONS
Does your law have any specific language regulating "GMO’s"?
Answer = YES, Part V of the Seeds Regulations regulates the environmental release of plants with novel traits

If yes, briefly describe.
Both confined field trials and unconfined release (normal agricultural production) must be assessed before approval may be given.

Does your agency test for specific GMO varietal traits on official samples?
Answer = YES, in some cases. However, in light of discussions on varietal purity vs genetic purity and the international discussions on adventitious presence of GM material, it is unclear at this time whether we would take regulatory action on a sample showing excessive levels of an approved event.

RELATIONSHIP TO "RUSSL"
Does your law model RUSSL?
Answer = NO

UNIQUE (MISCELLANEOUS) REQUIREMENTS
Does your law have any "unique" or special requirements and/or prohibitions?
Answer = YES, variety registration, use of seed grades for purity and germination, registration of seed establishments to conduct specific activities, environmental release of plants with novel traits(inc. GMOs)

Have you had any recent changes made to your seed law and/or regulations?
Answer = YES, The current changes are of a housekeeping nature and may be found at: http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/reg/consultation/reginite.shtml