Plants > Biotechnology / PNTs > Molecular Farming 

TECHNICAL WORKSHOP ON DEVELOPING A REGULATORY FRAMEWORK FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL RELEASE OF PLANTS WITH NOVEL TRAITS INTENDED FOR PLANT MOLECULAR FARMING

On March 2–3, 2005, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) hosted a technical workshop on developing a regulatory framework for the environmental release of plants with novel traits (PNTs) intended for plant molecular farming (PMF). Participants included representatives from the PMF industry, federal government organizations, agricultural and agribusiness associations, academia and other affected stakeholders.

After the CFIA’s last technical workshop on existing grain handling and segregation systems and their potential applicability to commercial PMF, the CFIA’s Plant Biosafety Office began developing preliminary draft guidelines for commercial PMF in Canada, in an effort to identify more clearly outstanding technical biosafety issues. These outstanding issues are reflected in the PBO’s discussion document entitled, "Developing a Regulatory Framework for the Environmental Release of Plants with Novel Traits Intended for Commercial Plant Molecular Farming in Canada". In addition to technical biosafety issues, this discussion document also highlights areas in the guidelines which required input from a broad, Government of Canada policy review on PMF. The objectives for this technical workshop were:

1. To receive feedback from participants on the content of the preliminary draft guidelines entitled, "Assessment Criteria for the Evaluation of Environmental Safety of Plants with Novel Traits Intended for Commercial Plant Molecular Farming"
2. To begin addressing some of the outstanding technical biosafety issues related to the environmental release of PNTs intended for commercial PMF in Canada; and,
3. To highlight area(s), in a CFIA regulatory framework, requiring input from a broad Government of Canada (GoC) policy on PMF

Please note that the workshop proceedings report is meant to be an accurate reflection of the workshop. The views and personal opinions of participants expressed during the workshop have been included for accuracy but do not necessarily reflect the views of the CFIA. In addition, the objective of the plenary discussions was not to seek consensus among participants but rather to provide a forum for participants to share their expertise, views, comments and recommendations.

• Industry Concerns Regarding the Development of Regulatory Frameworks for Commercial PMF in Canada (Rick Keon, SemBioSys Genetics, Inc.)
• Review of Discussion Document and Draft Guidelines (Tanya Fielding, Plant Biosafety Office, CFIA)

• The Government of Canada's Concerns Regarding the Development of Regulatory Frameworks for Commercial PMF in Canada (Philip Macdonald, Plant Biosafety Office, CFIA)

• Assessment Criteria for the Evaluation of Environmental Safety of Plants with Novel Traits Intended for Commercial Plant Molecular Farming (DRAFT)
• Discussion Document: Developing a Regulatory Framework for the Environmental Release of Plants with Novel Traits Intended for Commercial Plant Molecular Farming in Canada
• Executive Summary of Workshop

• Overview of Federal Regulatory Oversight of PNTs Intended for PMF
• Participating Organizations
• Workshop Proceedings