The status of labelling of genetically engineered/genetically modified (GE/GM) foods in Canada

On April 15, 2004, the Government of Canada announced that a labelling standard for voluntary labelling of genetically engineered (GE) foods was adopted as a National Standard of Canada.

The purpose of the labelling standard is to:

• provide meaningful criteria for labelling, understandable messages for consumers that are not false or misleading, and a consistent policy to verify the truthfulness of labels;
• in so doing, provide consumers with the basis for making informed choices; and
• provide further guidance to industry on labelling of GE and non-GE foods.
  
  

The Regulatory Context

In Canada, the government organizations responsible for regulating all crops and foods, including those that are GE are the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada. All GE crops and foods are scientifically assessed prior to approval and sale in Canada.

It is mandatory in Canada to label any food, including GE foods, if there is a health or safety concern, such as the presence of an allergen, or if the composition or nutritional value of the food has been substantially changed.

To date, federal regulators have determined there is no scientific evidence to suggest that GE foods pose a health or safety risk to humans any more than conventionally produced food.

In Canada, it is not mandatory to label a GE food (or any other food) for the process by which it has been developed. For example, no producer is required to label a food that is produced using hydroponics or organic farming methods or according to religious standards such as kosher or halal. Likewise, under current regulations, a producer is not required to label a product produced through a process of biotechnology.

So far, there is no international consensus on how GE foods should be labelled. A variety of countries have different (at times conflicting) rules for labelling and international efforts to develop consistency (through the Codex Alimentarius) have, so far, been unsuccessful.

In December 2004, MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis introduced a Private Member's Bill (C-317), an Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (mandatory labelling for genetically modified foods) to the House of Commons. The bill calls for publishing in the Canada Gazette, the name of any food or one or more of its components that is genetically modified, prohibiting the sale of these GM food products once listed in the Canada Gazette unless a label identifies it as a GM product, and prohibiting the sale of these GM food products unless a sign is posted by the seller of the product identifying GM products.

CBAC's Advice to Date, on Labelling of GE/GM Foods

The Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee (CBAC) strongly supports consumer choice. In our report on The Regulation of Genetically Modified foods (August 2002), we recommended a voluntary system of labelling for GE foods that is first and foremost, truthful, not misleading, and verifiable.

One thing is certain: any system for labelling GE foods will pose challenges. For example:

• conditions required for verification of whether a product (crop, food or food component i.e., glucose made from corn) is GE or not. This is includes a need for:
  • "identity preservation," a system of segregating crops to preserve their identity as having certain characteristics, such as a non-GE high oil-producing corn, or a GE crop with certain nutritive qualities; and
  • a means of verifying claims , such as a chemical analysis and/or a chain of custody audit trail;
• a threshold of GE ingredients permitted before a product must be labelled as GE;
• potential increases in food costs to pay for segregation and labelling and the burden this could present for consumers;
• enforceability of a mandatory system;
• compliance with existing trade agreements (i.e., labelling to indicate a product is GM/GE or not indicates the process by which it is made; it is not a label that tells of any potential health or safety concern. Currently in Canada, it is mandatory to label only if a product poses a potential health or safety risk. If labelling for process were made mandatory, it may expose Canada to retaliatory trade actions by its trading partners);
• possible impediments to research and development activities; and
• potential impediments to international trade.
  
  

CBAC recommended that Canada begin with a voluntary labelling system for the following reasons:

• to allow time to test the adequacy and efficiency of a voluntary system and to develop an international standard and consensus;
• to provide consumers who wish to purchase GM-free products with the ability to identify them;
• to limit potential increased costs; and
• to avoid trade action in the event that a mandatory labelling scheme for the process by which a product is made, which is a non-health and safety reason, contravenes trade agreements.

CBAC is pleased that through the CGSB process, a national standard for labeling now exists in Canada. CBAC is also pleased to note that this standard—the first true standard for GE food labeling in the world—goes much further than any other system so far produced. It not only deals with the choice of negative labels (e.g. "this food does not contain GE ingredients"), but also provides rules that deal with positive labels for foods that have GE traits desirable to the consumer (e.g. "this food contains GE ingredients").

CBAC also recommended that five years after the labelling standard is implemented on a voluntary basis, it should be evaluated to determine if it is effective in providing choice to consumers. Further, CBAC recommended that if it does not satisfactorily address consumer choice, other approaches, including mandatory labelling, should be considered.

Further Background

Biotechnology is an umbrella term that covers a broad spectrum of scientific tools and techniques, including "genetic engineering."

In Canada, foods derived from biotechnology are more commonly referred to as genetically engineered (GE) or genetically modified (GM) although, scientifically speaking, the terms are not one in the same (GE refers to the transfer of one or more genes across species; GM includes a broader range of plant breeding technologies used in the production of crops and foods).

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada regulate all crops and foods in Canada that have "novel traits," including those developed through conventional and biotechnological processes. The products are scientifically assessed for human, animal and environmental safety and must be approved by the regulators before commercial sale in Canada.

How was the standard for labelling GE foods developed?

The voluntary labelling standard for GE foods was developed by a committee of the Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) -- comprised of a broad range of stakeholders, including consumer groups, food companies, producers, general interest groups, universities and government.

What information is provided on a label?

The following examples, provided by the Canadian General Standards Board, are some of the claims considered acceptable if made in accordance with the standard. For more information on acceptable and non-acceptable claims, as determined by the labelling standard, see the Canadian General Standards Board web site.

• "These potatoes are a product of genetic engineering"
• "This corn oil is a product of genetic engineering"
• "Non-genetically engineered potatoes"
• "Corn (not a product of genetic engineering)"
  
  

How can consumers be assured of complete and accurate labelling of food ingredients?

(From the CGSB Web site)

The labelling standard includes definitions that are clear and concise, general principles and models for voluntary declarations, and procedures used to verify the truthfulness of these declarations. No claim is permitted if it cannot be verified.

Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) carry joint responsibility for federal food labelling policies in Canada under the Food and Drugs Act.

Health Canada is responsible for setting food labelling policies with respect to health and safety matters (i.e. nutritional content, allergens, special dietary needs, etc.). This applies to all foods including foods that have been derived through genetic engineering.

CFIA is responsible for the development of non-health-and-safety food labelling regulations and policies. More specifically, CFIA is responsible for protecting consumers from misrepresentation and fraud with respect to food labelling, packaging and advertising and for prescribing basic food labelling and advertising requirements applicable to all foods (i.e. listing of food ingredients and components, product claims, mandatory information and statements etc.). Again, these apply to all foods, including genetically engineered foods.

For more information on labelling of GE foods, visit the following web sites:

• Canadian General Standards Board of Canada, New CGSB Standard Takes the "Crunch" Out of GE Foods
• Health Canada
• Canada Food Inspection Agency
• Proponents of mandatory labelling: Consumers' Association of Canada
• Opponents of mandatory labelling: BIOTECanada