Grain standards 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

Related links

• Grain standards advisory committees
• Standard samples as a grain grading tool
• Official Grain Grading Guide