While the Canadian Food Inspection Agency is the lead agency responsible for the regulation of agricultural products, it is not the only agency with this responsibility. Health Canada reviews novel products for food safety and sets data requirements for the assessment of the safety of all foods.
Health Canada also identifies hazards and specifies the standards that food inspectors observe. Its Pest Management Regulatory Agency (PMRA), assumed responsibility for registration and regulation of all pest control products in April 1995. It evaluates any product having pesticidal properties. Environment Canada works with regulatory agencies to help develop standards required for products that may affect the environment.
A wide range of products are regulated under the authority of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA).
The regulatory authorities for these products are contained in Acts and Regulations. Whether the product has been produced by conventional methods or by advanced biotechnology, the general information requirements are the same. The agency strives to ensure that these regulatory requirements are consistent with those of recognized international scientific groups and with other national governments.
Product evaluators at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency have developed guidelines that are consistent with those used by international authorities. Some of the principles that are followed in Canada are:
Scientific information is increasing continually and regulators must build their regulatory approach on this changing information base. This results in more efficient assessment as similar products are developed over time and could also mean expanded uses and additional applications for a product as new information becomes available.
The existing legislation and the products that are regulated under it are outlined in the table below. This table gives examples of products derived from biotechnology for each of the main product groups. Some of the key control procedures that apply are also listed.
Product | Act | Biotech Products | Contacts |
Livestock feeds, additives | Feeds Act | novel feeds | Canadian Food Inspection Agency Feeds section, Plant Products Division Tel: (613) 225-2342 |
Fertilizers, supplements | Fertilizers Act | biofertilizers | Canadian Food Inspection Agency Fertilizer Section, Plant Products Division Tel: (613) 225-2342 |
Plants | Seeds Act
Plant Protection Act |
plants with novel traits
plants with novel traits and genetically engineered micro-organisms |
Canadian Food Inspection Agency Plant Biotech Office, Plant Products Division Tel: (613) 225-2342 |
Animals, veterinary biologics |
Health of Animals Act | vaccines produced by or containing genetically engineered organisms | Canadian Food Inspection Agency Veterinary Biologics & Biotechnology Section Animal Health Division Tel: (613) 225-2342 |
DISCLAIMER
Information contained in this section is of a general nature only and is not intended to constitute advice for any specific fact situation. For particular questions, the users are invited to contact their lawyer. For additional information, see contact(s) listed below.
Quebec Contact(s):
Regional Director, Montreal East
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
Room 600
7101 Jean-Talon Street East
Anjou, Quebec
H1M 3N7
Telephone: 514-493-8859
Fax: 514-493-9965
Toll-free (information): 1-800-442-2342
TTY Toll-free (hearing impaired): 1-800-465-7735
Web site:
http://www.inspection.gc.ca/english/toce.shtml