Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Science Branch
Office of Biotechnology

Consultation

February 2004

• CFIA Consultation on Animal Biotechnology

  The goals of the meeting were to

  • continue consultations with stakeholders and regulated parties in order to proceed further in the implementation of the recommendations from the Animal Biotechnology Focus Group Meeting, held in March 2003,
  • receive input and guidance on current issues facing the Animal Biotechnology Unit (ABU), and
  • advance toward the development of the animal biotechnology regulatory framework for Canada.

October 2003 / Ongoing Process

• Biotechnology Notices of Submission Project

  The CFIA and Health Canada are launching a pilot project to post on the CFIA Web site "notices of submission" that describe the product and the data they receive from certain product developers who have requested safety assessments of plants with novel traits (PNTs) for unconfined release and safety assessments of novel feeds and novel foods derived from PNTs.

March 2003

• Animal Biotechnology Focus Group Meeting

  The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) is working in tandem with EC and HC to provide expert opinion and to devise a way to enforce the CEPA to regulate biotechnology-derived animals. Modifications to the current regulatory system, including amendments to the Health of Animals Act and Health of Animals Regulations to deal with animal biotechnology, are now under consideration.

August 2002

• Joint Health Canada / CFIA Expert/Multistakeholder Consultation on the Revision of Regulatory Directives on Novel Foods, Plants with Novel Traits and Livestock Feeds from Plants with Novel Traits

  The Government of Canada is currently reviewing and updating guidelines and regulatory directives that oversee novel foods, plants with novel traits and livestock feeds from plants with novel traits.

October 2001

• Plant Biosafety Office: Consultation on Plant Molecular Farming

  The Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), which is responsible for regulating environmental releases of plants with novel traits, is providing opportunities for the public and stakeholders to learn about molecular farming and to express their views and concerns regarding the regulation of plants used in plant molecular farming in Canada.

August 2001

• A proposal to list the Seeds, Feeds, Fertilizers and Health of Animals Acts and Regulations under the Canadian Environmental CEPA (as they pertain to new products of biotechnology and new chemicals) was published in Canada Gazette Part 1. Comments were supportive of the proposal and the amendment was published in the Canada Gazette Part II on August 29, 2001. It can be viewed at http://canadagazette.gc.ca/   Part II.
   

• Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee - Interim Report to the Government of Canada Biotechnology Ministerial Coordinating Committee  CBAC is inviting feedback on this report and will be accepting input until January 31, 2002.

  This document is an Interim Report of the Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee (CBAC) to the Government of Canada on the regulation of genetically modified (GM) food. It covers the first two phases of a three-phase project that CBAC has undertaken on this important topic. The primary objective of the project is to identify improvements in the structure and function of the regulatory system that would position it to successfully meet current and future challenges.

• Canadian General Standards Board's (CGSB) "Draft Standard for the Voluntary Labelling of Foods Obtained or Not Obtained Through Genetic Modification" is now available
  The comment period ends October 17, 2001.

  The Canadian General Standards Board (CGSB) has been asked by the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors to develop a National Standard for Canada for the voluntary labelling of foods and food ingredients obtained from and not obtained from biotechnology.

March 2001

• Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee - Regulation of Genetically Modified Food - Consultation Document 2001
  
• This consultation document is directed primarily to groups and individuals with a particular knowledge of and interest in genetically modified (GM) foods and how they are regulated in Canada. All Canadians interested in providing views to CGSB are invited to respond.

August 2000

• >Plant Biosafety Office: Regulations Amending the Seeds Regulations (Part V - Biotech)
  Publication in Canada Gazette I for public comment

January 2000

• Plant Biosafety Office: Consultation on Insect Resistance Management Strategies for Bt Potatoes

April 1999

• Development of a Regulatory Framework for Animals Derived from Biotechnology

  The "Consultation on Regulating Livestock Animals and Fish Derived from Biotechnology" was held on November 2nd and 3rd, 1998, at the Citadel Inn in Ottawa, Ontario.

April 1998

• Consultation on Regulating Livestock Animals and Fish Derived from Biotechnology

January 1998

• Renewal of the Canadian Biotechnology Strategy:  Sectoral Consultation on Agriculture and Agri-Food

December 1995

• Communiqué: Labelling of Novel Foods Derived Through Genetic Engineering

November 1994

• Technical Workshop on the Labelling of Novel Foods Derived through Genetic Engineering

November 1993

• Workshop on Regulating Agricultural Products of Biotechnology Proceedings