Food > Biotechnology >Food Safety 

How Many Genetically Modified Food Products are Permitted in Canada?

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) shares responsibility for the regulation of products derived from biotechnology including plants, animal feeds and animal feed ingredients, fertilizers and veterinary biologics. For genetically modified crop plants, the CFIA assesses the potential risk of adverse environmental effects; authorizes and oversees import permits, confined trials, unconfined release and variety registration.

Health Canada is responsible for assessing the human health safety of products derived through biotechnology including foods, drugs, cosmetics, medical devices and pest control products. In the case of novel foods, each safety assessment considers the process used to develop the novel food, its characteristics compared to those of its traditional counterpart, its nutritional quality, the potential presence of any toxicants or anti-nutrients, and the potential allergenicity of any proteins introduced into the food.

Fifty-one types of genetic modification in crops have been approved by Health Canada for food use in Canada. Crops so far approved include:

• corn, including strains resistant to corn borers and herbicides;
• canola, including strains resistant to herbicides;
• potato including strains resistant to Colorado potato beetles;
• tomato including strains that ripen slowly;
• squash;
• soybean;
• flax;
• cottonseed oil and,
• sugar beet.

For more information:

Decisions on Novel Foods (Health Canada)