Animals > Biotechnology > Consultations (2003)  

CFIA Consultation on Animal Biotechnology - 2003

March 27-28, 2003

Executive Summary

The Animal Biotechnology Focus Group Meeting was held on March 27 and 28, 2003, at the Lord Elgin Hotel in Ottawa, Ontario.

Representatives from academia, the animal biotechnology industry, and government were invited to participate in the session to define the role of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) in the regulation of animal biotechnology.

The purpose was to provide stakeholders and regulated parties with a forum for discussion of the current status and anticipated developments in the regulation of animal biotechnology in Canada and with an opportunity to formulate recommendations on the future role of the CFIA in this area.

Federal government presentations delivered during the session included the following:

• Regulation of animal biotechnology in Canada including the current status and proposed changes
  Dr. Glen Gifford, National Manager, Veterinary Biologics Section, CFIA
• Canadian Environmental Protection Act and the New Substances Notification Regulations
  Ms. Kim Hibbeln, Environment Canada
• Guidelines for the safety / environmental assessment of biotechnology-derived livestock
  Dr. Harpreet Kochhar, Animal Biotechnology Unit, CFIA
• Framework for the animal health risk assessment of biotechnology-derived animals and animal products
  Dr. Nancy Rheault, Animal Health Risk Assessment Unit, CFIA

The federal government presentations were followed by key research presentations as follows:

• Current status and new developments in the science and technology of animal biotechnology and cloning
  Lawrence C. Smith - Centre de recherche en reproduction animale, Faculté de médecine vétérinaire, Université de Montréal, Quebec
• Research supported by NSERC, CIHR and Canada Research Chair on Animal Cloning and Biotechnology.
• Transgenic animals: from research to application to acceptance
  Dr. Alan Wildeman, University of Guelph
• Animal welfare and biotechnology
  Dr. Marilyn Keaney, DVM, PhD, LLM, University of Ottawa

Animal Biotechnology Industry Presentations

• TGN Biotech Inc.
  Dr. Marc-Andre Sirard (Vice-President, Research)
• NEXIA Biotechnologies
  Dr. Jeff Turner (Chief Executive Officer)
• L’Aliance Boviteq Inc. (research arm of SEMEX Aliance)
  Dr. Daniel Bousquet
• Enviropig™ - University of Guelph
  Dr. Cecil Forsberg
• Alta Genetics
  Dr. Bob Welper