Canola and rapeseed: Grading

Important definitions

Net weight of sample

The sample after cleaning and removal of dockage is referred to as the cleaned sample. Its weight is the net weight of the sample. Percentages by weight for grading refer to percentages of the cleaned sample, or the net weight.

Hazardous substances in samples

Wear gloves and a mask to handle any samples that you suspect may contain hazardous substances. Hazardous substances are defined in section 1 of the Canada Grain Regulations as “any pesticide, desiccant or inoculant”.

Rounding rules

Rounding rules are outlined in schedule 3 of the Canada Grain Regulations. When official inspection results are expressed numerically, they should be expressed to the same decimal precision as the applicable tolerance in the primary and export grade determination tables.

Processed samples

An unofficial sample of grain declared to be conditioned or cleaned to meet end user specifications, and whereas, the determination of dockage and/or determination of commercially clean are not performed or reported.

Crush

A crush is one pass of the roller under firm pressure over a seed stick on masking tape.

Colour Guides

The Canadian Grain Commission produces the Canola/Rapeseed Colour Guide for reference when assessing distinctly green seeds and the Canola/Rapeseed Heated Colour Guide for reference when assessing heated seeds. Grain industry members may obtain copies of these colour guides by contacting the Canadian Grain Commission at 1-800-853-6705 or QAStandards-NormesAQ@grainscanada.gc.ca.

Non-registered varieties

A registered variety refers to varieties of crops that have been granted variety registration in Canada. Species, kinds or types of crops subject to variety registration in Canada are listed in Schedule III of the Seeds Regulations. Not all crops are subject to registration. The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is responsible for the registration of varieties in Canada. Consult the CFIA’s database of varieties registered in Canada online to determine if a given variety is registered in Canada.

Where grain of any kind is not a registered variety under the Seeds Act, no person shall, except with the permission of the Canadian Grain Commission, assign a statutory grade to that grain which is higher than the lowest grade established by regulation for that kind of grain.

Representative portion for grading

All grading is done on representative portions divided down from the clean sample, using a Boerner-type divider.

The optimum representative portion is the representative sample size within the minimum and maximum range used to obtain the most accurate result when assessing an objective factor. It is determined by taking into consideration the tolerance and concentration of the objective factor being assessed.