Grain standards committees
Grain producers, processors, and exporters all have a voice in how Canada's grading system is developed. How does this happen? Through the Eastern Standards Committee in Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada and the Western Standards Committee in the Prairie provinces and the Peace River region of British Columbia.
Services and information
Grain standards committee members
List of grain standards committee members and their contact information.
Grain standards committee meetings
Meeting agendas, recommendations, and records of discussion.
Grain standards committees’ terms of reference
Details about the membership, objectives, roles, duties, terms, and remuneration and expenses of the standards committees.
Grain standards advisory committees
The advisory committees provide advice and recommendations to the eastern and western grain standards committees.
Wheat Advisory Committee
List of Wheat Advisory Committee members and contact information.
Barley and Other Cereal Grains Advisory Committee
List of Barley sub-committee members and contact information.
Oilseeds Advisory Committee
List of Oilseeds Advisory Committee members and contact information.
Pulses Advisory Committee
List of Pulses Advisory Committee members and contact information.
Grain standards advisory committees’ terms of reference
Details about the membership, objectives, roles, duties, terms, and remuneration and expenses of the advisory committees.
Committees’ role in grading system
The Canadian Grain Commission sets standards and specifications for grades of grain, but we do that based on recommendations from the grain standards committees. The committees make recommendations based on careful study and review of grading issues.
The committees work to:
- make sure changes to the grading system reflect the interests and concerns of all parts of Canada's grain sector
- constantly review Canada's grading system so that it continues to be relevant to the grain sector and to buyers of Canada's grain
The committees meet twice a year: once in the fall following harvest and once in the spring before the new crop is planted. Their members include grain producers, processors, exporters and government representatives.
Activities
The committees:
- give the Canadian Grain Commission its recommendations on specifications and grain grades which are found in the Official Grain Grading Guide
- recommend standard samples to the Canadian Grain Commission. Elevator operators and Canadian Grain Commission inspectors use them to determine if a grain sample meets the minimum visual quality for a grade
- recommend that the Canadian Grain Commission begin or continue grading studies and projects. These include research into grading issues. The committees base their grading recommendations, in part, on the outcome of grading studies
- participate in grading studies and projects