A preliminary analysis of flax samples has confirmed the presence of a deregistered genetically modified flax variety in Canadian supplies.
Rémi Gosselin, spokesperson for the Canadian Grain Commission, said samples from three cargoes at commercial position have tested positive for the presence of CDC Triffid.
The commission is now in the process of “drilling down” or tracing the samples back from Thunder Bay, Ont., through the system to see where they originated.
The contamination was discovered using the same type of construct specific test employed by European labs that originally raised the red flag about an unapproved GM trait finding its way into food products on European store shelves.
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No positive results were generated in a separate examination of breeder and certified seed samples conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency.
Europe has issued 51 rapid alert notifications of Triffid contamination involving dozens of countries.
Canadian officials contend the construct specific testing method used in Europe and in the recent examination of the Canadian handling system isn’t as thorough as the event specific test being developed by the National Research Council’s Plant Biotechnology Institute and DNA Landmarks. But that test isn’t ready yet.
Gosselin expects it will take a few weeks to trace back the source. The CGC did not publicize the positive tests because it said it contains commercially sensitive information.
Protocol created
In the meantime, the industry hopes trade can resume under a protocol developed by the Canadian government in conjunction with the Flax Council of Canada and DG Sanco, which is the European Commission’s director general for health and consumer affairs.
The protocol is a system of sampling, testing and documentation designed to satisfy European Union importers and regulators that future Canadian flax shipments will meet Europe’s zero tolerance policy for unapproved GM traits.
The protocol will use the construct specific testing methodology to ensure there is no Triffid detected down to a 0.01 percent level 19 times out of 20.
DG Sanco presented the protocol to EU member states at an Oct. 19 gathering of EU agriculture ministers. A decision was expected on Oct. 29, after The Western Producer’s publication deadline.
Winter approaching
Some European crushers would like to see Canadian flax exports resume before the St. Lawrence Seaway system closes, which is typically before Christmas.
That could prove difficult, said Barry Hall, president of the Flax Council of Canada. Considerable work needs to be done to implement the protocol, including identifying accredited labs able to handle the volume of testing required.
It’s different from the grading and other testing activities that labs have traditionally done with flax.
“They have the capability to do this too but not on a large scale,” said Hall.
Gosselin said it will take at least a couple of weeks for the CGC to set up its program for testing all outbound cargoes if the Europeans approve the protocol.
The CGC will also provide flax exporters with a list of accredited labs capable of conducting Triffid tests on their product. It will be up to the companies to identify which lab they want to do business with and to work out the arrangements.
“It’s not easy but it’s doable,” said Hall. “The pressure is on because it’s getting colder down at Thunder Bay all the time.”
He hasn’t seen an estimate of how much the new protocol will cost the handling system but is under the impression those costs will be passed along to Europe’s flax buyers.
