Information
August 2002
The Regulation of Genetically Modified Foods
The health and safety of Canadians, and protection of the environment are of paramount concern for
the Government of Canada as it sets regulations, guidelines and standards industry must meet before
a genetically modified food is permitted on the Canadian market.
Under the Food and Drugs Act, Health Canada conducts a thorough safety assessment of each
new product, including GM food for human consumption, before it can be sold in Canada. The Canadian
Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) enforces food safety standards set by Health Canada and regulates the
environmental safety of products derived from biotechnology, including plants, animal feeds, fertilizers
and veterinary biologics such as blood prior to their import or sale in Canada.
Under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act (CEPA), Environment Canada and Health Canada
conduct risk assessments of new substances not already covered under other legislation, including
biotechnology products, to determine if there are adverse effects to the environment or human health,
prior to their import into, or manufacture in Canada.
The government is pleased that the consultation process developed and implemented by the Canadian
Biotechnology Advisory Committee (CBAC) regarding the regulation of GM foods in Canada, actively
sought the views of Canadians, including those from stakeholders and interest groups that participated
in various consultations.
We are confident that CBAC has taken into account the views received during the consultation process
and met its commitment to provide sound, comprehensive, evidence-based advice. This advice will assist
the government to further develop the current regulatory system and ensure continued effective, science-based
regulation of biotechnology.
In 1999, the federal Ministers of Health, Industry, Agriculture and Agri-Food, Environment, Fisheries
and Oceans, Natural Resources, and Foreign Affairs and International Trade created the Canadian Biotechnology
Advisory Committee (CBAC), an independent, arm's length, expert advisory committee. CBAC's mandate
is to advise government on the full range of policy issues related to the development and application
of biotechnology in Canada - those associated with the ethical, social, regulatory, economic, environmental
and health aspects of the technology. In doing so, CBAC identifies and assesses emerging and strategic
policy issues and conducts research in support of this advisory role.
The Government of Canada is committed to ensuring that regulation of products derived from biotechnology
continues to meet the most stringent scientific standards and that it keeps pace with both the technology
and the new types of products being developed. To that end, the government allocated $30 million
per year in Budget 2000 specifically to enhance the regulatory system for products of biotechnology.
The advice given in CBAC's report complements recommendations made by the Expert Scientific Panel
of the Royal Society of Canada. The Royal Society report, released in February 2001, also provided
recommendations to help strengthen the regulatory system for GM foods and ensure government can continue
to meet regulatory needs.
The government responded to the Royal Society in November 2001 with its Action Plan. The plan sets
out details of work already underway and future plans by various federal departments to address recommendations
made by the Royal Society. The Government has since provided two progress reports on its Action Plan.
A third is planned for December 2002. The Action Plan progress reports are available on CFIA's and
Health Canada's Web site at:
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