Frequently Asked Questions - Biotechnology and Genetically Modified Foods

Part 3: Labelling of Novel Foods Derived Through Genetic Engineering

• Who is Responsible for Developing the Policy on Labelling of Genetically Modified Foods in Canada?
• What are the Federal Government's Guidelines Concerning Labelling of Genetically Modified Foods?
• How Were the Guidelines on Labelling of Novel Foods Derived Through Genetic Engineering Developed?
• Will consumers know which foods are genetically modified when they shop in the marketplace?
• When does Health Canda require genetically-modified foods to be labelled?
• What is the Federal Goverment doing to examine the issue of labelling?

Who is Responsible for Developing the Policy on Labelling of Genetically Modified Foods in Canada?

Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) share the responsibility for food labelling policies under the Food and Drugs Act. Health Canada is responsible for developing policy and setting standards related to the health and safety aspects of labelling under the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations, whereas the CFIA applies these policies and enforces the regulations. The CFIA also has the mandate to develop general food labelling policies and regulations not related to health and safety. In particular, the CFIA is responsible for protecting consumers from misrepresentation and fraud with respect to food labelling, packaging and advertising, and for prescribing basic food labelling and advertising requirements.

With respect to genetically modified foods, as with all foods, Health Canada's role is to identify the information required on the label of that food to ensure its safe use. Special labelling is required if changes occurred in the food that the consumer needs to be informed of for health and safety reasons, such as major compositional or nutritional changes. Health Canada would determine what type of information is needed on the label to inform Canadians about these changes in the food.

What are the Federal Government's Guidelines Concerning Labelling of Genetically Modified Foods?

• Special labelling is required for all foods, including genetically modified foods, where safety concerns such as allergenicity and compositional or nutritional changes are identified. In this situation, labelling is required to alert consumers or susceptible groups in the population.
• Labelling must be understandable, truthful, and not misleading.
• Voluntary positive ("does contain") and voluntary negative ("does not contain") labelling is permitted, provided that the claims are factual and not misleading or deceptive.

In principle, food products derived from genetic modification that are demonstrated to be safe and nutritious, are treated the same as non-genetically modified foods with regard to labelling requirements. In cases where a product has been intentionally modified, special labelling is required to inform consumers of the change to the product. For example, oil derived from high oleic soybean lines must be listed in food ingredient lists by the common name "high oleic soybean oil", to distinguish it from regular soybean oil.

How Were the Guidelines on Labelling of Novel Foods Derived Through Genetic Engineering Developed?

The current federal position on labelling foods derived from genetic modification was developed based upon the outcomes of three public consultations which started in 1993. These consultations include the workshop on Regulation Agricultural Products of Biotechnology, November 1993, and the Technical Workshop on the Labelling of Novel Foods Derived Through Genetic Engineering, November 1994. The public consultation process considered the views of a wide range of stakeholders including industry and industry associations, consumer groups and the federal and provincial governments. At the Technical Workshop held in 1994, nutritionists, academics, consumer and environmental groups, producers and government representatives recommended that unless there was a potential health and/or safety concern or significant nutritional or compositional changes, the fact that the process of genetic engineering was utilized need not be identified on the label.

Will consumers know which foods are genetically modified when they shop in the marketplace?

In Canada it is not mandatory to identify the method of production, including genetic modification, that was used to develop a food product. Nevertheless, voluntary method of production labelling is permitted, provided it is truthful and not misleading.

To facilitate the use of such voluntary labelling, the Canadian government supported the development of a national standard for the voluntary labelling of foods derived through biotechnology. This standard was developed by the Canadian Council of Grocery Distributors, under the guidance of the Canadian General Standards Board. This initiative was launched in November 1999 with participation from consumer groups, food companies, producers, environmental groups, general interest groups and government.

The draft standard developed through this initiative includes:

• the scope of foods to be covered under the standard;
• model label statements; and
• procedures required to verify the truthfulness of these statements.

The voluntary labelling standard is not intended to address health and safety concerns as these are already addressed by the Food and Drugs Act and Regulations. Health Canada's involvement in the development of the standard was to provide technical information and guidance regarding the Department's role in the regulation of genetically modified foods in Canada and to minimize potential inconsistency between the standard and the Food and Drugs Act.

The standard was published as a National Standard of Canada in April 2004.

The federal policy on labelling foods derived from biotechnology remains under discussion with Canadians and international standards organizations such as Codex Alimentarius.

When does Health Canada require genetically-modified foods to be labelled?

As with all foods, including foods derived through genetic modification, Health Canada requires special labelling to address health and safety issues which might be mitigated through labelling such as identifying the presence of an allergen. Labelling is also required to identify compositional or nutritional changes. In these situations, labelling is required to alert consumers or susceptible groups in the population at large. For example, oil derived from high oleic soybean lines must be listed in food ingredient lists by the common name "high oleic soybean oil", to distinguish it from regular soybean oil.

What is the Federal Government Doing to Examine the Issue of Labelling?

At the request of the Minister of Health, along with the Minister of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Industry and International Trade, the Standing Committee on Health initiated a study on the best options for meeting consumer information needs with respect to genetically modified foods in January 2002. The study resumed in March 2003 with participation from Health Canada. In May 2003, the Committee agreed not to pursue the subject further after hearing an update from the chair of the Canadian General Standards Board Committee on the development of a voluntary standard for the labelling of genetically modified foods. This voluntary standard was adopted as a National Standard of Canada in April 2004.

The House of Commons Standing Committee on Agriculture and Agri-Food also completed a study on the labelling of GM foods. The Committee held four public hearings between January and April 2002, and heard close to twenty groups representing the various components of the agriculture and agri-food industry. Its study entitled "Labelling of genetically modified foods and its impact on farmers" was completed in June 2002. The government response to this report was tabled in the House of Commons on October 31, 2002.

In August 2002, as part of its mandate, the Canadian Biotechnology Advisory Committee (CBAC) released the report entitled "Improving the Regulation of Genetically Modified Foods and Other Novel Foods in Canada", which included recommendations concerning labelling. In its report, CBAC recommended the development of a voluntary standard for the labelling of genetically modified foods for reasons other than health and safety. It also recommended that the standard be widely publicized and reviewed five years after its implementation for adequacy and effectiveness, at which time other options may be considered. In addition, CBAC also recognized that the government must continue to cooperate with other countries to develop a harmonized approach to labelling.