WINNIPEG (Staff) – Three genetically engineered canola varieties have jumped two regulatory hurdles and have one more to cross before gaining acceptance by Japan.
Kiyoshi Kishimoto, a deputy director in the food marketing bureau of Japan’s agriculture ministry, said the transgenic varieties have to meet environmental, food safety and animal feed safety requirements.
He told an annual meeting between Japanese buyers and the Canola Council of Canada held here last week that the government has not yet decided whether transgenics will be accepted.
George Powell, chair of the canola council, said he expects Japan to make an announcement about it this fall.
He said the council learned the varieties are in the final stages of testing for animal feed suitability.
Once they are approved, Powell said farmers will be able to grow the varieties commercially.
Transgenic varieties have had genes artificially manipulated to be resistant to some herbicides.
Six transgenic varieties have been approved in Canada. But because of Japanese concerns, they have been grown only on contract, kept separate from regular plants and sold only to domestic crushers.
