Canada Grain Act Changes

OTTAWA - Dec 9/14 - SNS -- Amendments to the Canada Grains Act will extend the Canadian Grain Commission's powers further into eastern Canada and create a new license for a container loading elevator.

Explaining the changes, the CGC said creating a container loading facility license would provide more consistent regulation to the industry and "Effectively respond to quality complaints on the increasing volume of grain shipped in containers."

It would also "improve statistical reporting (and) license the grain industry more consistently."

The amendment is included in section 45(1) of the act and suggests that the change applies to anyone who wants to buy grain from farmers for loading into containers through their facility.

The changes in eastern Canada would allow the CGC to "monitor, test and enforce grain safety issues in grain elevators in Eastern Canada as required where provincial authorities do not exist.

"The Canadian Grain Commission would have the ability to request samples of grain from Eastern elevators. . . . The change would not expand the Canadian Grain Commission's licensing authority in Eastern Canada. Primary and process elevators east of Thunder Bay would continue to follow provincial regulations. The change would not be implemented until stakeholders and provincial governments in Eastern Canada have been consulted."