Official Grain Grading Guide

Flaxseed: Primary and export grade determination tables

Chapter 11. Flaxseed (PDF, 872 KB)

Flaxseed, Canada Western (CW)

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Download a poster version of the primary and export grade determination table for Flaxseed, Canada Western (CW), 61 x 91 cm (24 x 36 in) (PDF, 219 KB)

Flaxseed, Canada Western (CW), standard of quality
Grading factor	No. 1 CW	No. 2 CW	No. 3 CW	Grade, if No. 3 specs not met
Degree of soundness	Mature and sweet	Reasonably well matured and sweet	Excluded from higher grades on account of light weight or damaged seeds, may have the natural odour associated with low-quality seed, not distinctly sour, musty, rancid or any odour that would indicate serious deterioration
Minimum test weight kg/hL (g/0.5L)	65 (305)	62 (290)	No minimum
Variety	Any variety of flaxseed registered under the Seeds Act	Any variety of flaxseed registered under the Seeds Act	Any variety of flaxseed
Standard of cleaniness Commercially pure seed	Not more than 1.0% of other seeds that are not readily separable from flaxseed, to be assessed as dockage	Not more than 1.5% of other seeds that are not readily separable from flaxseed, to be assessed as dockage	Not more than 2.0% of other seeds that are not readily separable from flaxseed, to be assessed as dockage	Flaxseed, Sample CW Account Admixture
Yellow seeded flax % (in brown flax)	2	3	4	50% or less— Flaxseed, Sample CW Account Admixture
Brown seeded flax % (in yellow flax)	2	2	2	50% or less— Flaxseed, Sample CW Account Admixture

Flaxseed, Canada Western (CW), damage
Grading factor	No. 1 CW	No. 2 CW	No. 3 CW	Grade, if No. 3 specs not met
Broken %	13	25	35	50% or less—Flaxseed, Sample CW Account Broken Over 50%—Sample Broken Grain
Heated %	0.1	0.2	10.0	Flaxseed, Sample CW Account Heated
Total % Damage	13	25	No limit

Flaxseed, Canada Western (CW), foreign material included in dockage
Grading factor	No. 1 CW	No. 2 CW	No. 3 CW	Grade, if No. 3 specs not met
Ergot %	0.05	0.05	0.05	Flaxseed, Sample CW Account Ergot
Excreta %	0.02	0.02	0.02	Flaxseed, Sample CW Account Excreta
Sclerotinia %	0.10	0.20	0.25	Flaxseed, Sample CW Account Admixture
Stones %	0.05	0.05	0.05	2.5% or less— Flaxseed, Rejected (grade) Account Stones Over 2.5%—Flaxseed, Sample Salvage
Inseparable seeds %	1.0	1.5	2.0	Flaxseed, Sample CW Account Admixture
Total % Foreign material included in dockage	1.0	1.5	2.0	Flaxseed, Sample CW Account Admixture

Flaxseed, Canada Eastern (CE)

Print format
Download a poster version of the primary and export grade determination table for Flaxseed, Canada Eastern (CE), 61 x 91 cm (24 x 36 in) (PDF, 217 KB)

Flaxseed, Canada Eastern (CE), standard of quality
Grading factor	No. 1 CE	No. 2 CE	No. 3 CE	Grade, if No. 3 specs not met
Degree of soundness	Mature and sweet	Reasonably well matured and sweet	Excluded from higher grades on account of light weight or damaged seeds, may have the natural odour associated with low-quality seed, not distinctly sour, musty, rancid or any odour that would indicate serious deterioration
Minimum test weight kg/hL (g/0.5L)	65 (305)	62 (290)	No minimum
Variety	Any variety of flaxseed registered under the Seeds Act	Any variety of flaxseed registered under the Seeds Act	Any variety of flaxseed
Standard of cleaniness Commercially pure seed	Not more than 1.0% of other seeds that are not readily separable from flaxseed, to be assessed as dockage	Not more than 1.5% of other seeds that are not readily separable from flaxseed, to be assessed as dockage	Not more than 2.0% of other seeds that are not readily separable from flaxseed, to be assessed as dockage	Flaxseed, Sample CE Account Admixture
Yellow seeded flax % (in brown flax)	2	3	4	50% or less— Flaxseed, Sample CE Account Admixture
Brown seeded flax % (in yellow flax)	2	2	2	50% or less— Flaxseed, Sample CE Account Admixture

Flaxseed, Canada Eastern (CE), damage
Grading factor	No. 1 CE	No. 2 CE	No. 3 CE	Grade, if No. 3 specs not met
Broken %	13	25	35	50% or less—Flaxseed, Sample CE Account Broken Over 50%—Sample Broken Grain
Heated %	0.1	0.2	10.0	Flaxseed, Sample CE Account Heated
Total % Damage	13	25	No limit

Flaxseed, Canada Eastern (CE), foreign material included in dockage
Grading factor	No. 1 CE	No. 2 CE	No. 3 CE	Grade, if No. 3 specs not met
Ergot %	0.05	0.05	0.05	Flaxseed, Sample CE Account Ergot
Excreta %	0.02	0.02	0.02	Flaxseed, Sample CE Account Excreta
Sclerotinia %	0.10	0.20	0.25	Flaxseed, Sample CE Account Admixture
Stones %	0.05	0.05	0.05	2.5% or less—Flaxseed, Sample CE Account Stones Over 2.5%—Flaxseed, Sample Salvage
Inseparable seeds %	1.0	1.5	2.0	Flaxseed, Sample CE Account Admixture
Total % Foreign material included in dockage	1.0	1.5	2.0	Flaxseed, Sample CE Account Admixture

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2026-08-01