The Canadian Seed Institute has postponed all Registered Seed Establishment and lab audits in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Who would have predicted that in early 2020 we’d be united in our efforts managing the impacts of a historical, global event, the COVID-19 pandemic? It is having an incredible impact on our personal lives, work lives, and on our communities,” CSI executive director Roy Van Wyk said in a statement. “As the spread of COVID-19 grows, so does the risk of exposure, for the CSI auditors and for you, our clients. In consideration of the growing risks, CSI has decided to suspend all audit and inspection activities for the next month, until April 20.”
On Monday afternoon this week, the Canadian Grain Commission (CGC) sent all their staff home until April 5, he noted. CGC staff responsible for the delivery of CGC’s identity preservation and food safety program shared the announcement with the auditors and program clients noting that the CGC will grant extensions to all clients impacted by this decision.
CSI is following suit, Van Wyk said.
“Yesterday we asked CSI auditors to postpone all audits scheduled to take place in the next month. We will continue to monitor the news for any changes in the status of the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada. If the spread of the virus continues to grow in our communities, or if the duration of the outbreak is longer that expected, then we will consider further actions.”
