Is Seed Saving Illegal In Canada?

Amended PBR Act restricts the rights of farmers and other Canadians to save, reuse, exchange, and sell seeds. On Feburary 27, 2015, amendments to Canada’s Plant Breeders Rights Act came into force after Bill C-18 was passed by Parliament.

Is it legal to save seed in Canada?

Currently, the Plant Breeders’ Rights Act contains a provision called “farmers’ privilege” which allows farmers to save seed of protected varieties for their own use, provided they do not sell that seed.

Is it illegal for farmers to save seeds?

Legality. While saving seed and even exchanging seed with other farmers for biodiversity purposes has been a traditional practice, these practices have become illegal for the plant varieties that are patented or otherwise owned by some entity (often a corporation).

Is it legal to sell vegetable seeds in Canada?

All non-pedigreed (common) seed that has been advertised for sale must be tested for purity and germination prior to labelling with a grade name for sale in Canada. If requested by a purchaser, every vendor of seed must supply purity and germination test results, in writing, within 30 days of the request.

Are seeds allowed in Canada?

every lot of imported seed must meet the Canadian weed seed standards and be labelled as required if it is going to be sold in Canada (regardless of whether it meets the “small lot” exemption at time of import);

Do you need a license to sell seeds in Canada?

Most seed-producing countries, including Canada, have laws that permit only Certified seed lots grown and planted according to the regulatory requirements for varietal purity and identity, germination and freedom from impurities to be tagged with the Certified blue tag from an official seed inspection agency. Q.

Does Canada have a seed vault?

Canada’s seed vault in Fredericton opens its doors to species special to Indigenous communities. The National Tree Seed Centre. has been collecting, cataloguing and preserving seeds since the 1960s, but now it’s putting a special focus on saving species important to Wolastoqey and other Indigenous communities.

Can farmers replant their own seeds?

GMO seeds, like any others, can be saved and replanted. This misconception is a result of so-called ‘terminator genes’ that were researched in the 1900s to make seeds sterile, but they never made it into production.

Can I save seeds from my garden?

You can save vegetable seeds from your garden produce to plant next year. Seed saving involves selecting suitable plants from which to save seed, harvesting seeds at the right time and storing them properly over the winter.

Can I save unused seeds for next year?

If you didn’t use up all of the garden seed you bought this year, much of it can be stored for use in next year’s garden, depending on the plant species. Seeds of some plants, such as corn, parsley, onion, viola (pansies), verbena, phlox and salvia, are not very long lived, lasting only 1 or 2 years at best.

How do I start a seed business in Canada?

Getting Started in Seed Production

1. Step 1: Obtain a copy of necessary documents.
2. Step 2: Purchase pedigreed seed of Foundation or Registered class.
3. Step 3: Familiarize Yourself with Circular 6.
4. Step 4: Verify that your land meets previous land use requirements.
5. Step 5: Isolate the crop.

Can you sell your own seeds?

Selling unlisted seed? – that’s against the law. Buying unlisted seed? – that’s completely fine! So we should stress that for you it’s perfectly legal to buy any seed you like, plant it, grow it, and do whatever you want with it.

Can you grow your own vegetables in Canada?

Canada has a comparatively short growing season. You can plant cool weather veggies such as peas, spinach, broccoli and kale starting in April. Start lettuce in early May. Warm weather plants like tomatoes, beans, peppers and squash can be planted in June.

Is it illegal to send seeds to another country?

Because most countries have regulations to protect against agricultural pests and diseases as well as invasive species, you will probably need both a phytosanitary certificate and an import permit to take or send your seeds to another country.

Is it illegal to bring seeds from another country?

All travelers entering the United States are REQUIRED to DECLARE meats, fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, animals, as well as plant and animal products (including soup or soup products) they may be carrying. The declaration must cover all items carried in checked baggage, carry-on luggage, or in a vehicle.

Can you mail seeds across the border?

Package Shipping Instructions: Seller should adhere the Green and Yellow USDA-issued Shipping Label addressed to the U.S. Inspection Station to the outside of the package. The shipment must be mailed to the approved port of entry listed on the permit.

Are seeds taxable in Canada?

Canada’s tax regime, which does not levy sales taxes on food no matter how far it has travelled before landing on Canadian store shelves, does impose sales taxes on seeds that people use to grow food in their own backyards.

What’s the difference between breeder seed and certified seed?

Breeder seed shall be genetically so pure as to guarantee that in the subsequent generation i.e. certified foundation seed class shall confirm to the prescribed standards of genetic purity. The other quality factors of breeder seed such as physical purity, inert matter, germination etc.

How do I get seeds certified?

Seed certification requires planting eligible seed stocks, field inspection of the growing crop, proper conditioning or cleaning, representative sampling, thorough laboratory analysis, and proper labeling. Certification involves the inspection of the crop in the field as well as samples of the harvested seed.

Does seed Savers Exchange ship to Canada?

Canadian Customers – Orders are shipped to Canada via USPS Airmail. We cannot ship perishable items to Canada. Shipping Time – Orders with all items in stock will leave our warehouse within 3-4 business days.

Do dispensaries sell seeds in Canada?

Yes, it is legal to buy cannabis seeds in Canada, because with the passage of 2018’s Cannabis Act, Canada became the first G7 and G20 nation to legalize cannabis.