OTTAWA – The federal government has proposed new “precautionary” rules to govern the regulation of food products produced through biotechnology.
The proposals, now subject to a 60-day comment period, cheered farm representatives who lobbied to keep food product assessment under Agriculture Canada control, rather than Environment Canada.
“We are pleased with these recommendations,” said Sally Rutherford of the Canadian Federation of Agriculture. “Essentially, it leaves regulation for the industry products and processes with Agriculture Canada and that’s what we were looking for.”
She noted the federation has been part of an industry coalition opposing environmentalist proposals to have all biotech products, those created by manipulating genes, regulated by the environment department.
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“To have put these under CEPA (Canadian Environmental Protection Act) would not have been appropriate,” she said. “They wanted to regulate a process. We believe we should regulate the product.”
Last week, after months of public speculation, the government published its proposed regulations that will require Agriculture Canada officials to judge the health and safety of the new products under the rules set out in existing agricultural legislation.
For products not covered by the feeds, fertilizers, health of animals and seeds act, regulations for biotech products are proposed under the CEPA.
The government described the CEPA regulations as a safety net to catch products not covered by other legislation.
“Health and safety concerns will not be compromised,” said a government statement.
Margaret Kenny, Agriculture Canada biotechnology specialist, said the proposed regulations are in line with the government’s biotech strategy announced two years ago.
She said it will put into regulation what has until now been done by guideline.
She said the industry will have 60 days to comment.
Then, unless cabinet decides to delay implementation because of opposition, the new regulations could be in place by late autumn.
