Seed import compliance in Canada
Authorities reviewed 2026-10-23
Short answer
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) administers the Seeds Act and Seeds Regulations, is the registrar for variety registration, and publishes the seed import requirements ("ABCs of seed importation into Canada").
CFIA is modernising the seed regulations; confirm the current requirement for each shipment.
Responsible authorities and official sources
- CFIA — Seeds
Administers the Seeds Act and Seeds Regulations; registrar for variety registration and registered seed establishments.
- CFIA — ABCs of seed importation into Canada
Seed import requirements: applicable legislation, acceptable seed analysis certificates, lot designation and paper flow.
Documents to prepare
- Check CFIA plant-health import requirements for the crop and origin.
- Prepare an acceptable seed analysis certificate and lot designation as described by CFIA.
- Confirm whether the crop kind requires variety registration in Canada.
- Phytosanitary certificate from the exporting country where required.
This is orientation, not legal advice. Rules change; confirm the current requirement with the authority for each crop, origin and shipment.
Next steps
- Start a seed sourcing request (qualified requests from USD 250,000)
- Seed price calculator (historical import unit values by HS code, not supplier prices)
- Seed import market map (UN Comtrade HS 1209 and HS 120991 imports by country, 2024)
- Seed, greenhouse and crop output journeys