Increasing access of agricultural products

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“This legislation is a long-overdue signal that Canada is ready to start taking competitiveness seriously again,” Jochum said. “Farmers are not asking for shortcuts. We are asking for timely access to tools our competitors are accessing and often using safely and effectively.” 

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Bill C-273 introduces a jurisdiction framework that would allow products approved in the United States, Argentina and Australia to receive provisional approval in Canada within a defined timeline. 

Jochum said the approach reflects common sense and aligns with how modern, globally competitive regulatory systems should operate. 

“Relying on trusted partners is not a compromise on safety. It is a recognition that duplication does not equal diligence,” he added. “Canada has world-class regulators, but we need a system that moves at the speed of innovation, not years behind it.” 

While supportive, the Wheat Growers emphasize that the FARM Act should be viewed as a starting point, not the finish line. 

“This bill moves us in the right direction, but we should be clear. Catching up is not the same as leading,” he said. “If Canada wants to be a global agriculture powerhouse, we need to build a regulatory system that attracts investment, accelerates innovation, and sets the pace internationally.” 

Grain Growers of Canada (GGC) welcomed the introduction of the FARM Act which would require provisional approval within 90 days for products already approved in two trusted international jurisdictions. 

In a statement, GGC said improving the pace at which new products reach the market has long been a priority for the agriculture sector, which has consistently called for regulatory modernization to improve the timeliness, transparency and predictability of the agricultural innovation system.  

Both groups believe current regulatory delays have discouraged companies from bringing new products to Canada, particularly in smaller crop sectors, leaving farmers with fewer tools to manage risk and optimize production. 

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alice.mcfarlane@pattisonmedia.com