As stated in the Alberta Pulse Growers Marketing Plan Regulations, the definition of "pulse" means the dry edible seeds of the following leguminous (ability to fix their own nitrogen) crops: peas, beans, lentils, chickpeas, fababeans, soybeans and lupines. The Marketing of Agricultural Products Act regulates Alberta Pulse Growers Commission.

This plan applies to:

1. All of Alberta
2. All persons in Alberta who produce or market or produce and market the regulated product
3. Any dealer
4. Any person who is not a producer or a dealer and who markets or processes regulated product

The Alberta Pulse Growers Marketing Plan Regulations (Alberta Regulation 120/99) state that APG's purpose is to:

1. Sponsor, direct and assist in research of all kinds pertaining to the furtherance and development of the pulse industry in Alberta;
2. Provide studies and research in connection with the production and marketing of pulses, including help to producers and dealers in implementing proper measures respecting the production, processing and marketing of pulses;
3. Direct and assist in the advertising of and to promote the consumption of pulses;
4. Work with federal and provincial agencies and with any person to improve the pulse industry;
5. Represent the pulse industry at regional, national and international meetings, where possible;
6. Encourage the use of standardized grades if the Commission considers it to be of benefit to the pulse industry;
7. Represent the pulse industry at public hearings and inquiries that are of concern to producers.
8. Act as an agent on behalf of producers in respect of matters relating to the Canada Revenue Agency's Scientific Research and Experimental Development Program as it applies to pulses.

 The Alberta Pulse Growers are financed by the charging and collection of service charges from producers. The service charges are to be collected by the dealer or the person who received the pulses from the producer. The service charges are to be assessed against all producers on a uniform unit basis (1% of value, effective August 1, 2003) and calculated on the quantity of the various pulses sold by the producers. The amount of the service charges is to be established at the annual Commission meeting. The service charge is refundable to a producer on request of the producer. The request for a refund of the service charge must:

1. be made in writing on a form established by the Commission, and
2. contain
   1. the producer's name,
   2. the producer's mailing address and telephone number, and
   3. a copy of the original cash ticket showing the deduction of the service charge.
3. requests for refunds must be received by the commission at its head office,
   1. prior to the end of August, for service charges collected during the period commencing on the previous February 1 and ending July 31, and
   2. prior to the end of February, for service charges collected during the period commencing on the previous August 1 and ending on January 31.
4. any request for a refund that is not received by the Commission within the time periods specified shall not be considered by the Commission and the producer shall not be entitled to a refund in respect of the service charges in question;
5. the Commission must refund the service charge to the producer within 90 days from the end of the period in which the request for a refund of the service charges is received, if the request complies with the regulations.

*** The request for refunds form is only available by contacting the Alberta Pulse Growers Commission head office at (780) 986-9398.  Requests for refunds from the Commission must be received by the Commission based on the following deadlines:

	Deadline for Submission		Sales Period
	February 28th		August 1 - January 31
	August 31st		February 1 - July 31