Plants in Canada are regulated on the basis of the traits expressed
and not on the basis of the method used to introduce the traits. Plants with
novel traits may be produced by conventional breeding, mutagenesis or
recombinant DNA techniques.
Please refer to the specific Decision Documents for more details on specific
approvals. Information on novel trait introduction methods can be found in
Decision Documents for each specific PNT
(plant with novel traits) that has been approved for
environmental release - accessed by direct web linkage in the
table.
Unless exempted, a Permit to Import is required under the Plant
Protection Act by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to import plants
with novel traits into Canada, regardless of their end-use. Plants exempted
from this requirement are those that have been determined, following a pest
risk assessment, not to pose a plant pest risk by the CFIA, and include the plants listed
in this table.
OECDUnique Identifier: The Organization for Economic
Co-operation and Development's (OECD) Working Group on
Harmonization of Regulatory Oversight in Biotechnology has developed guidance
for a unique identifier for transgenic plants. The purpose is for the use as a
"key" to access information in OECD's database
of products of modern biotechnology which have been approved for commercial
application. (
N/A denotes Not-applicable). For more information see:
OECD Environmental Directorate,
Environment, Health and Safety Division, 2 rue Andre-Pascal, 75775 Paris Cedex
16, France
Living Modified Organism (LMO): is defined by the
Cartegena Protocol on Biosafety to the Convention on biological Diversity as
any living organism that possesses a novel combination of genetic material
obtained through the use of modern biotechnology.
"Living organism" means any biological entity capable of
transferring or replicating genetic material, including sterile organisms,
viruses and viroids.
"Modern biotechnology" means the application of:
In vitro nucleic techniques, including recombinant deoxyribonucleic acid
(DNA) and direct injection of
nucleic acid into cells or organelles, or
Fusion of cells beyond the taxonomic family, that overcome natural
physiological reproductive or recombination barriers and that are not
techniques used in traditional breeding and selection.
There may be a number of reasons why there has been no approval for
environmental release or livestock feed use, or determination of "no
objection" for food use. These include (i) the applicant does not intend
the PNT to
be deliberately released into the environment; (ii) the applicant does not
intend the PNT to be used for livestock feed; (iii) the
applicant may not wish to use the crop as food; (iv) the application is still
under review; and (v) Health Canada or the Canadian Food Inspection Agency
(CFIA) has not
received an application to review.
Authorization for Unconfined Release into the Environment:
"Yes" denotes that the CFIA has authorized the unconfined
release of the PNT into the environment for the purpose of
cultivation, on an unrestricted basis. Production in a contained facility (e.g.
greenhouse, hot house, etc.) is not subject to an assessment and authorization
for unconfined release into the environment. "Yes" does
not indicate the commercial status of the PNT.
*
- Authorization is conditional on the implementation of an effective insect
resistance management plan to reduce or delay the potential development of B.t.
resistance in target insect populations.
**-
Unconfined release into the environment is authorized in British Columbia,
Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
DD:
Denotes that a Decision Document, containing a summary of the safety
evaluation, has been issued for environmental release and/or livestock feed
authorization. Information on novel trait introduction methods can be found
here.
Authorization for use as livestock feed:
"Yes" denotes that the CFIA has authorized the use of the
PNT for livestock feed. "Yes" does not
indicate the commercial status of the PNT.
Variety Registration: "Yes" denotes that
at least one variety of this plant has been registered. See Variety Registration
website for list of registered variety names. Note, not all crop species are
subject to variety registration. "Yes" does not
indicate the commercial status of the PNT.
Food Safety Authorization: "Yes" denotes
that Health Canada has determined it has no objections to the
PNT being used as human food. See Health Canada's
Novel Foods website. "Yes"
does not indicate the commercial status of the PNT.
