As per the Belgiques in the 3rd volume of the FAL bible:
The Ex1 is not "A" "commercial production" rifle of the day. The Ex1 was the FIRST production FN-FAL ever. All previous FALs were in prototype form only (@60 guns total).
Canadawas the first country to order (June/July '53) production FN-FALs, the first country to adopt (what became) (Dec/Jan '54) 7.62mm NATO, and the first country to adopt (@mid '54) the FAL as it's service rifle.