What is the GROU Program?
The GROU (Grower Requested Own Use) program is a government program that allows growers to import the U.S. version of Canadian-registered crop protection products for their own use.
The Nomination Process
1. Members of the nomination committee solicit their members and others in the agriculture sector for potential GROU products;
2. The nomination committee does an initial assessment of which of these products are eligible;
3. The nomination committee then decides which products will be sent to PMRA for official assessment and, if eligible, nomination.
A total of 15 products can be placed on the GROU list per year, including renewals of products expiring from the list (each product remains on the list for 2 years unless renewed)
What makes a product ineligible for GROU?
- The data exclusive period has not ended. New products have an exclusive use period for 10-12 years.
- Restricted use products are not eligible for GROU.
- No matching product in the U.S. The company that sells the product in Canada must be the same as the company in the U.S.
- Not materially identical to U.S. version. The product must give the same active ingredient % as the U.S. version.
Calls for nominations
The nomination committee puts out a call for nominations every September. If there is a product you would like to see on the GROU list please contact CFA at envsci@canadian-farmers.ca.