Accredited Seed Treatment Operation Standards

Resources
Program Auditors
Accredited Operators
Standards (PDF)

CropLife Canada and its members required that all commercial seed treatment operations (as defined by treating seed for sale or gain) successfully complete a 3rd party audit of their operations prior to January 1, 2021. The standards are aimed to develop and implement improved stewardship practices in the storage and use of the plant science industry’s seed treatment products. The standards consist of a series of protocols listing the requirements for operators. Sites must successfully complete an audit conducted by a certified Seed Treatment Auditor to become
accredited.

Only Accredited Seed Treatment Operators are eligible to receive shipments seed treatment products for application purposes.

Initially launched in 2016 for compliance by January 1, 2018, sites that become Accredited Seed Treatment Operators were eligible to receive shipments of designated seed treatment products for application on identified commodities from Canadian distributors and ag-retailers. Designated seed treatment products were seed treatment products that were identified by the Canadian registrant to be used exclusively on identified commodities in commercial seed treatment operations that have successfully passed an Accredited Seed Treatment Operation Standards audit.

On January 1, 2021 CropLife Canada members expanded the scope of the Accredited Seed Treatment Operation Standards program to encompass ALL commercial seed treatment facilities (as defined by treating seed for sale or gain).

Effective January 1, 2021 only commercial seed treatment operations that have successfully completed an audit for the Accredited Seed Treatment Operation Standards with an AWSA auditor will be eligible to receive shipments of seed treatment products from distributors or ag-retailers for commercial application. This applies to all seed treatment products for all commodities. Growers treating seed on-farm for their own farm use will continue to be exempt from the scope of the Accredited Seed Treatment Operation Standards (see Bulletin #9).