A proposal to revise the Grain Standards Advisory Committees

The Canadian Grain Commission is proposing to replace the current Grain Standards Advisory Committees with a Grain Standards Advisory Forum model. We are seeking feedback from grain sector stakeholders on these proposed changes.

About the Canadian Grain Commission

The Canadian Grain Commission is a federal government department. We administer and enforce the Canada Grain Act and the Canada Grain Regulations.

Under the Canada Grain Act and Canada Grain Regulations, we establish and maintain Canada’s grain quality standards. We also regulate the grain sector to protect producers’ rights and to ensure the integrity of grain transactions.

Our programs help to ensure shipments of Canadian grain are safe, reliable, and provide a dependable commodity for international and domestic customers.

Introduction

As required by the Canada Grain Act, the Canadian Grain Commission has established a Western Standards Committee and an Eastern Standards Committee. The standards committees recommend standards and specifications for grades of grain.

Given the technical nature of this work, the standards committees seek the advice of experts to ensure that scientific research and practical experience guide any of their recommendations.

To provide the necessary technical and scientific advice and support, the Canadian Grain Commission has also established specific Grain Standards Advisory Committees:

Advisory committee Committee interest
Wheat Wheat
Barley and other cereal grains Barley, oats, rye, triticale, canary seed, mixed grain
Oilseeds Canola, flaxseed, sunflower seed, rapeseed, safflower seed, domestic mustard seed
Pulses Beans, chickpeas, faba beans, lentils, peas, soybeans

The objectives of each advisory committee are to:

  • bring forward commodity-specific concerns related to the grain grading system
  • facilitate input from stakeholders
  • study grain quality issues to provide subject matter expertise, scientific analysis, and advice to support the work of standards committees

As per by-law No. 7, the Canadian Grain Commission appoints the following to each of its advisory committees:

  • a Canadian Grain Commission grain inspector and scientist
  • grain sector members, including from processors and exporters of grain
  • Canadian grain producers
  • additional representatives that the Commission considers advisable

Objectives of the proposed changes

The advisory committees provide the Western Standards Committee and Eastern Standards Committee with technical and expert advice required to make grain grade and standard recommendations. Updating the advisory committee model could ensure a more inclusive stakeholder discussion on potential quality impacts of Canadian grain.

The Canadian Grain Commission is proposing to replace the current model with a Grain Standards Advisory Forum model. This proposal is designed to be inclusive to all grain sector stakeholders to bring forward potential grain grading and quality concerns for discussion in advance of the Western Standards Committee and Eastern Standards Committee meetings.

The proposed changes would:

  • open participation to:
    • any grain sector organization, such as producer or commodity organizations
    • any producer or interested stakeholder
    • any Canadian Grain Commission licensee
  • replace the 4 appointed advisory committees with a single, open advisory forum
  • organize advisory forum agendas by grain type
  • hold advisory forum meetings virtually, at least twice per year prior to the standards committee meetings
  • document and record participant comments and input for distribution to participants after the meeting and to be shared with the standards committees
  • eliminate voting on items discussed at advisory forum meetings
  • retain participation by Canadian Grain Commission grain inspectors and research scientists

We are seeking feedback from grain sector stakeholders on these proposed changes.

Purpose of consultation document

This document explains:

  • the proposed changes
  • how to submit input
  • what happens after the consultation is concluded
  • timelines of the consultations

Background

In 2001, the Canadian Grain Commission created 4 commodity-based sub-committees through by-law to provide scientific and technical expertise, advice, and analysis to the Western Standards Committee. As the grain sector evolved along with buyer demands for grain quality, the Canadian Grain Commission re-evaluated the sub-committee composition and membership to enable the ability to provide technical recommendations to both the Western Standards Committee and Eastern Standards Committee.

Based on feedback and analysis resulting from the Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada-led Canada Grain Act review and consultation with the Western Standards Committee and Eastern Standards Committee, the Canadian Grain Commission changed the sub-committees to the Grain Standards Advisory Committees in 2022. At that time, the Canadian Grain Commission, under section 12(e) of the Canada Grain Act, enacted by-law No. 7 respecting the committees, and developed updated committee Terms of Reference, communication materials, and administrative processes. While this update addressed a number of issues, there remain challenges related to membership, engagement, and administration.

Membership

The current structure has raised questions about who is able to participate on advisory committees and their general accessibility. Some interested stakeholder organizations do not have representation on the current advisory committees. The Canadian Grain Commission attempts to ensure a level of technical expertise on the committees, while balancing various stakeholder interests (for example, producers, and exporters) and regional representation. However, this results in limited availability of spots. At the same time, some Western Standards Committee or Eastern Standards Committee members have requested more involvement by suggesting dual representation on both the advisory committee and the standards committees, while others have stressed the already significant time commitments.

Engagement

One of the shared responsibilities for all standards committee members is to submit commodity-specific concerns related to grain grading, grain standards, analytical grain testing equipment, or standard samples as potential agenda items. However, items such as the Canadian Grain Commission’s planned scientific research or updates to definitions and grading procedures in the Official Grain Grading Guide have made up the majority of agenda items in recent years.

Any grain sector stakeholder can bring forward concerns for discussion at an advisory committee meeting by contacting a standards committee member, an advisory committee member, or the Canadian Grain Commission. However, with the evolving digital landscape, stakeholders increasingly contact the Canadian Grain Commission directly online, including communicating quality concerns over social media and escalation of issues via committee members is infrequent.

Administration

The Canadian Grain Commission and grain sector stakeholders both dedicate substantial administrative resources relative to the number of agenda items received from the advisory committees. The Canadian Grain Commission is responsible for coordinating the advisory committee member appointment processes, and the 4 advisory committee meetings twice a year. Similarly, grain sector stakeholders are responsible for submitting potential members to participate on the advisory committees, and coordinating meeting processes with their representative.

Proposal for stakeholder input

To establish a modernized Grain Standards Advisory Forum structure inclusive to all parts of the Canadian grain sector, the Canadian Grain Commission is proposing significant amendments to by-law no. 7. Under this alternative approach to the current advisory committees, interested stakeholders would be invited to discuss issues in advance of the Western Standards Committee and Eastern Standards Committee meetings. Specifically, through the proposed Grain Standards Advisory Forum process, the Canadian Grain Commission would:

8 weeks before the Western Standards Committee and Eastern Standards Committee meetings:

  • send notice of a virtual Grain Standards Advisory Forum meeting to grain sector stakeholders via direct email and publicized on social media
  • invite grain sector stakeholders via direct email and the Canadian Grain Commission’s social media channels to contact the Canadian Grain Commission with grading or standards issues, concerns, or discussion items for the meeting agenda
  • provide instructions via direct email, social media, and on the Canadian Grain Commission website on how stakeholders can add grading or standards issues, concerns, or discussion items to the meeting agenda, and how they can sign up to attend the Grain Standards Advisory Forum meeting
    • Information including name, phone number, mailing address, email address, the grading or standards issue, concern or discussion item described in sufficient detail, and the name of the organization represented if applicable, will be required when providing input

5 weeks before the Western Standards Committee and Eastern Standards Committee meetings:

  • publish the agenda, organized by grain type, for the Grain Standards Advisory Forum meeting on the Canadian Grain Commission website, send notice via direct email to stakeholders with the agenda, and post the agenda on the Canadian Grain Commission’s social media channels

Approximately 4 weeks before the Western Standards Committee and Eastern Standards Committee meetings:

  • conduct the Grain Standards Advisory Forum meeting
  • chair, facilitate, and document the discussion
  • present items and analysis on any grading issues identified for discussion
  • ensure stakeholders have the opportunity to provide comments, concerns, and information
  • generate a summary report to be presented at the Western Standards Committee and Eastern Standards Committee meetings

1 week before the Western Standards Committee and Eastern Standards Committee meetings:

  • email the summary report from the Grain Standards Advisory Forum meeting to forum participants and the standards committees along with the agenda for the standards committee meetings

During the Western Standards Committee and Eastern Standards Committee meetings:

  • the Canadian Grain Commission-appointed Chair presents the Grain Standards Advisory Forum summary report

4 weeks after the Western Standards Committee and Eastern Standards Committee meetings:

  • publish information from the Grain Standards Advisory Forum summary report with the Western Standards Committee and Eastern Standards Committee records of discussion on the Canadian Grain Commission website
  • post about the reports on the Canadian Grain Commission’s social media channels

Through this proposal, targeted engagement on commodity-specific topics remains possible. Should further study on a certain issue be deemed necessary, the Canadian Grain Commission, and the Western Standards Committee and Eastern Standards Committee can establish an ad hoc working group of technical experts from the sector to investigate and provide advice.

Providing your input

We want to hear your views on:

  • the current advisory committee format
  • this outlined proposal to move to a Grain Standards Advisory Forum
  • the potential impacts to yourself or organization if this proposal is implemented
  • any improvements to the proposal

How to submit your input

The Canadian Grain Commission must receive your input in writing by midnight central time on March 15, 2025 for consideration.

You are invited to submit input in the official language of your choice by

Grain Standards Advisory Committees proposal comments
Canadian Grain Commission
600-303 Main Street
Winnipeg, MB R3C 3G8

The Canadian Grain Commission recommends that you include the following information along with your input:

  • your full name
  • your phone number
  • your complete mailing address
  • your email address
  • the reason for the input
  • information on the organization you represent, if any
  • any additional information that is relevant

If you are submitting a meeting request to provide direct input, please provide the following information:

  • your full name
  • the name of the organization you represent
  • your organization’s phone number
  • your organization’s complete mailing address
  • your organization’s email address
  • the approximate date(s) when your organization wishes to meet with the Canadian Grain Commission
  • any additional information that is relevant

If you have any questions, please contact us.

Thank you for your contribution.

How we use your input

We will study your input along with other considerations, such as:

  • input received from other stakeholders on the Grain Standards Advisory Committee format
  • consistency with the Canadian Grain Commission’s mandate to establish and maintain standards of quality for Canadian grain, regulate grain handling in Canada, and to ensure that grain is a dependable commodity for domestic and export markets
  • the legal or policy implications of your proposals within the framework of the Canada Grain Act, if applicable
  • consistency with broader Government of Canada policies and priorities

We are committed to an open and transparent process. To maintain your confidentiality, names of individuals will be protected in accordance with the Privacy Act .

Next steps

We will compile input we receive and publish a summary of what we heard after the consultation process concludes. We will consider and assess all feedback, including relevant legal and operational requirements and the value-added potential for the grain sector before any changes are made.