The Chief Commissioner for the Canadian Grain Commission believes the latest announcement to modernize the Crop Variety Registration Process is a good move.

Most field crops grown in Canada like wheat, canola, pulses and forages are subject to Variety Registration.

Elwin Hermanson says it should help speed up the registration process adding it takes time to breed new varieties, test them out and make sure they are commercially viable.

"If they can increase their profits and meet market demand. I think this will help some, it's not going to be a magic potion that's going to revolutionize the process, but it's a step in the right direction."

A number of industry stakeholders have been involved in the consultation process including the Canadian Grain Commission.

Hermanson says the main change will move the process from three tiers down to two with commodity groups and grain breeders deciding which tier they want to be in.

"The enhanced tier is the one that we're most involved with because that involves our field trials," said Hermanson. "And of course the Canadian Grain Commission is very, very concerned about end use functionality and quality. And so the wheat for instance would be in tier number one, which is the enhanced tier."

He says other grains would be in the basic tier.

Another change, incorporation by reference, would allow value chain consensus and speed up administrative changes by 24 months.

The Federal Government says the proposed changes will go through additional consultations with industry groups.

Hermanson notes the Federal Government Variety Registration process is different from the CGC’s Wheat Class Review - consultation for that ended last week.