Food > Biotechnology >Food Safety 

Genetically Modified Foods: Who Decides If They're Safe?

Are genetically modified foods evaluated for safety?

Yes. Before a genetically modified (GM) agricultural or food product can be produced and marketed in Canada, it must undergo a number of scientific safety assessments. These assessments are designed to determine that the product is not dangerous for humans, animals, or the environment. Government of Canada evaluators conduct these safety assessments, taking into consideration expert advice from the global scientific community and the latest scientific literature.

Together, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada are responsible for assessing the safety of GM agricultural and food products. They have a strict process in place, which is consistent with international standards.

How long does it take to assess the safety of genetically modified foods?

It takes seven to ten years to develop, test, and thoroughly assess the safety of genetically modified food products.

What does the government look at in its safety assessment of agricultural products?

The CFIA assesses new agricultural products for safety and effectiveness. The Agency sets safety standards for seeds, plants, animal feeds and feed ingredients, veterinary biologics, and fertilizers, including those that are produced through modern biotechnology.

Before becoming a food, GM plants are subjected to several years of confined research field trials. During this time their interaction with the broader environment is restricted. The information from the research field trials is then used in another safety assessment that looks at the environmental impacts of the plant, including:

• the potential of the plant to become a weed or to invade natural habitats
• the potential to affect wild plants that are related to the modified plant
• the potential for the plant to become a new plant pest
• the potential impact of the plant or its gene products on other species (including humans)
• the potential impact on biodiversity

What about foods ?

Health Canada assesses the safety of all foods developed through biotechnology. Scientific evaluators with expertise in chemistry, microbiology, molecular biology, nutritional sciences, and toxicology look at the following:

• how the food crop was developed and what changes were made in the plant's molecular structure
• how the GM food compares in composition and nutrition with its counterpart food that has not been modified
• whether the GM food contains new toxins (substances that may cause harm to animals, humans, or the environment)
• whether the GM food may cause allergic reactions

At any point in the assessment of GM foods, the government may ask for additional research or testing from the food producer or manufacturer. Only if all of Health Canada's stringent criteria are met, is a GM food approved for sale in Canada.

The government maintains up-to-date information on new scientific research and new types of food and agricultural products. This helps keep government regulations current and effective.

What about the long-term safety of genetically modified foods?

Another of Health Canada's key responsibilities is to monitor potential long-term health trends associated with health products and food, including biotechnology-derived products. If Health Canada has any concerns about the safety of a product while doing the scientific assessment, it is not approved for sale in Canada. After nine years of reviewing the safety of GM foods, Health Canada has not found any scientific evidence showing that GM foods are any less safe than their traditionally produced counterparts.

On the environmental side, the government is developing a plan to study potential long-term and cumulative effects of genetically modified organisms (GMOs) on biodiversity, wildlife, and other parts of our ecosystem. The knowledge gained from this research will be used in both policy and regulatory decision-making. Also, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, in consultation with the CFIA, is doing a research project—which will last for at least 12 years—to examine the potential long-term environmental impacts of approved and commercially available modified crops such as corn, potatoes, and canola.

How do Canada's standards for safety assessments compare to other countries?

Canada's safety assessments are based on standards set by the Codex Alimentarius Commission, the international standard setting body within the joint food program of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, as well as the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The standards were developed through extensive consultations with technical experts and consumers.

Where can I get more detailed information?

If you would like more information about how Health Canada assesses the safety of GM foods, please see the Guidelines for the Safety Assessment of Novel Foods. This is available on Health Canada's "Novel Food and Ingredients" Web page at www.novelfoods.gc.ca or go to www.healthcanada.ca/biotech and follow the links to GM and Novel Foods. You can also get a copy of the regulatory guidelines by calling 1-800-O-Canada.

If you would like more information about how the CFIA assesses the safety of agricultural products, please consult the CFIA Web site, found at www.inspection.gc.ca.