There is major trouble brewing on the policy front of genetically modified (GMO) food production in Canada.Complacency will not solve this issue. It will not go away. There really is no hiding under a rock.
On May 18 Health Canada published new guidance on how it will regulate the sale of gene-edited plants (genetically modified organisms or GMOs in Canada). Those changes come in the face of opposition from more than 100 agricultural, environmental, consumer and labour groups across the country. Those groups have called on the federal government to apply independent testing and assessments, monitoring, and labeling of genetically modified organisms to assure health safety and public transparency related to the release of GMOs on the market.
The public letter, addressed to the ministers of Health and of Agriculture and Agri-Food, is signed by groups ranging from the Quakers, to the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment, the Council of Canadians, Food Secure Canada, the National Farmers Union, the National Union of Public and Government Employees, the Canadian Organic Growers, the Canadian Labour Congress, and dozens and dozens more.
The letter states in part: “We oppose the sale of unregulated, unreported genetically engineered foods and seeds. We oppose the proposals from Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) that would allow many gene-edited genetically engineered foods and seeds onto the market with no government oversight.”
In a February column I wrote for rabble, the issues surrounding gene-editing technologies are outlined in more detail.
The announcement by the federal health agency in mid-May was more than just a huge slap in the face, it is a move that will see the introduction of new gene-edited organisms onto the market without a clear, independent process for testing, monitoring, or identification. In essence, Health Canada’s announcement will allow for corporations to monitor themselves and to introduce many gene-edited organisms into the market. Health Canada undertook the move in May with little fanfare — almost by stealth. There was no public statement. No media release. While Health Canada has stated that it will discuss the guidelines, not much seems to be known about the timeline or parameters for those discussions.
The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) is the watchdog organization on many of these issues, and has published responses to Health Canada’s webpage information.
In “Response to concerns about the new guidance on Novel Food Regulations, products of plant breeding,” CBAN has provided side-by-side alternative responses to Health Canada’s public relations efforts geared to allay fears. It is an important read.
CBAN includes the following information among its responses:
“Yes, Health Canada publishes summaries for every novel food safety assessment it conducts — but the new regulatory guidance means that not all GM foods will be defined as novel and, therefore, not all will be assessed by Health Canada. This means that Health Canada will not publish summaries about every gene-edited food that could be on the market. The federal government is not requiring companies to provide public notification of these new unregulated GM foods. Health Canada could have defined all gene-edited foods as novel which would have made sure they are all regulated, but it did not do this. Instead, Health Canada decided to narrow the definition of what is “novel” and thereby surrender its regulatory authority over those gene-edited foods deemed “non-novel”. This means Health Canada cannot require companies to provide information about these unregulated gene-edited foods. In the absence of its ability to require information, Health Canada is asking companies to voluntarily notify the government and public about new unregulated GMOs.”
For more detail on regulatory changes related to genetically modified organisms the CBAN website contains a library of related publications.
This recent move has many farmers on edge as well. The Canadian Organic Producers, along with organic associations in several provinces are endeavouring to provide information to consumers and members about the impact of the new Health Canada guidelines.
With corporations such as Bayer (which purchased Monsanto in 2016), Corteva (which includes DowDupont), ChemChina (which includes Syngenta), and German-based BASF, now guarding the chicken coop, organic farmers have stated publicly that these new guidelines may well put them out of business. It won’t happen overnight, but it is a very real and predictable threat.
Consider what occurred to the canola market for Canada’s farmers when GMO canola was introduced into this country. GMO canola has contaminated all canola in Canada, and has meant that organic farmers have lost it as a potential crop. See my earlier rabble column written about the saga of Percy Schmeiser.
Canadian farmers, both organic and traditional, have also lost canola sales in markets such as Europe, where many countries refuse entry to crops grown with GMO seeds or organic crops contaminated with GMO seeds fearing their country and crops will also become tainted.
The example of GMO flaxseed is another case in point. Both of these GMO crops are harbingers of what awaits if transnationals are allowed to regulate the introduction of GMO plants — and particularly with no government oversight or public transparency such as labelling or listing. And that is just the impact in the marketplace. What about the many unknowns of genetically modified organisms more generally — and having choice as consumers. What about the principle of first do no harm? This article helps to explain the impact on organic farmers in Canada.
The National Farmers Union has also come out strongly against the May 18 guidance document released by Health Canada underscoring several key issues. Its Director of Research and Policy, Cathy Holtslander notes in an online oped:
“Today’s regulators and plant developers cannot assume that they have a full understanding of how gene editing will affect the organism as a whole, its future progeny, its environment or those who consume it as food. This is why we need careful and thorough public safety review of all gene-edited plants and foods,” writes Holtslander. “We are told that science is the foundation of our regulatory system. However, through its new regulatory guidance, Health Canada is in effect, pre-approving gene-edited foods.”
Health Canada’s May 18 guidance on opening up the field to many gene-edited organisms without testing or review is being followed by many organizations…. and hopefully there will be public pressure and the strengthening of the movement against this incredible lack of governance and oversight.
Why does this matter? Gene-editing is a powerful technology; the transnationals that are undertaking it are powerful; patents of genetically modified organisms are patented and created for control and profit; and …food and agriculture are essential for life!
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