Accredited and certified container sampling pilot programs

The Canadian Grain Commission’s accredited and certified container sampling programs are being tested in a pilot study. These programs will make Canadian Grain Commission certification available for grain exported in containers. Canadian Grain Commission certification is based on inspection by Canadian Grain Commission inspectors.

1. Accredited Container Sampling program
   Accredited third party firms:
   • Take official samples at a grain company’s facility
   • Submit them to the Canadian Grain Commission for inspection, grading and an official certificate
2. Certified Container Sampling program
   Certified grain companies:
   • Take samples at their own facility
   • Submit them to the Canadian Grain Commission for inspection, grading and a Type 1 submitted sample certificate

Under the Canada Grain Act, grain exporters are not required to have container shipments officially inspected by the Canadian Grain Commission, but they often request this service. The programs are being developed with the Canadian grain industry.

Pilot stage

The Canadian Grain Commission is in the pilot stage with these two voluntary container sampling programs. As part of the pilot, the Canadian Grain Commission is working with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to determine if the requirements of the Canadian Grain Commission pilot programs can be aligned with Canadian Food Inspection Agency sampling programs for seed and phytosanitary certification.

The Canadian Grain Commission is working with these companies during the pilot stage of these programs:

• Canadian Seed Institute
• Intertek
• P&H Cloverdale, Vancouver
• Ray-Mont Logistics, Quebec
• SGS
• Simpson Seeds Inc., Saskatchewan
• Western Transloading, Vancouver
• Thompsons Ltd., Ontario

Extension for flaxseed

In order to preserve access to markets such as those in the European Union, the Canadian Grain Commission is extending its accredited and certified container sampling pilot programs to those companies that ship Canadian flaxseed by container.

• Extension of accredited and certified container sampling pilot programs to flaxseed shipments

Process verification and accreditation contacts

For more information, contact the Process Verification and Accreditation office at the Canadian Grain Commission.