Health Canada
www.hc-sc.gc.ca
Common menu bar links
Partnerships
Health Canada works with federal, provincial, territorial and international government departments and organizations in its work related to biotechnology.
Our partners include:
- Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
- Canadian Food Inspection Agency
- Environment Canada
- Fisheries and Oceans Canada
- Industry Canada
- International Trade Canada
- National Research Council Canada
- Natural Resources Canada
- Federal/Provincial/Territorial Collaboration
- International Partners
- Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC) is the department responsible for products related to agriculture, including food products derived from biotechnology. It uses science and innovation to make Canada's agriculture and agri-food sector a world leader in food safety and environmentally sound production.
Biotechnology is an important tool in assisting AAFC scientists support the production of safe and nutritious food, maintain a healthy environment and develop innovative technologies. It helps them develop better diagnoses and treatment of human, animal and crop disease, breed new crops that are more stress tolerant, nutritious and high yielding, and reduce the need for pesticides and fertilizers in food production.
You can get more information by visiting 
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada's Web site.
Top of PageCanadian Food Inspection Agency
The Canadian Food Inspection Agency's (CFIA) role is to protect Canada's food supply and the health of plants and animals. The agency carries out safety assessments for the release into the environment of plants with novel traits, feed, microbial supplements and veterinary biologics - including those made through biotechnology. By doing so, CFIA establishes that products developed from these agricultural products are safe for Canadians, animals, and the environment. By conducting inspections and research, CFIA also enforces food safety and nutritional quality standards set out by Health Canada.
For more information, see the Canadian Food Inspection Agency Web site.
Environment Canada
Environment Canada's (EC) mandate is to make sustainable development a reality in Canada by helping Canadians enjoy an environment that is protected and conserved.
EC carries out research and development, regulation, innovation and stewardship. The department is developing knowledge on the interaction of biotechnology and ecosystems, and how to manage potential risks.
It is guided in its work by the Department of the Environment Act. When it comes to biotechnology, EC has responsibilities under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA 1999) and the United Nations' Convention on Biological Diversity.
You can visit Environment Canada's Web site for more details.
Fisheries and Oceans Canada
The responsibilities of Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada (DFO) include maintaining sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, as well as healthy and productive aquatic ecosystems. More and more, biotechnology has a role to play in this goal.
DFO uses biotechnology tools for many functions, such as building genetic profiles of commercially valuable species for stock identification and fishing management, preserving the genetic diversity of endangered species, and selecting broodstock in aquaculture development. DFO is also developing an aquatic animal health program, which is based partially on molecular diagnostic methodologies, to meet international requirements for the identification and control of aquatic diseases.
In the last few years, DFO has been increasing the amount of research and development in the field of genetically modified fish in many countries to improve food production. As well, the department has been at the forefront in the development of breakthroughs in DNA fingerprinting of marine species, molecular diagnosis of aquatic animal diseases, and the development of model strains of transgenic fish.
More information can be found on the Fisheries and Oceans Canada Web site.
Industry Canada
Industry Canada (IC) is the government department that encourages biotechnology development by providing support to conduct research, commercialize, adopt technology and therefore grow stronger, more successful businesses. The department provides access to information technology for skills development and assists industry in keeping up-to-date on new technologies, carrying out business transactions and gaining access to new ideas that lead to technological innovations.
A good example of this is Genome Canada. It was set up by IC to help Canada become a world leader in genomics and proteomics research in important areas such as agriculture, the environment, fisheries, forestry and health. Genomics research has brought the benefits of new drug therapies, a cleaner environment, bigger crop yields and more nutritious food to name a few.
An important tool developed by Industry Canada is the Bioportal, the online gateway to the latest government information on biotechnology. This easy to use and fully searchable site brings together resources from all federal departments and agencies.
To get more details visit Industry Canada's Web site.
International Trade Canada
Canada is a world leader in the field of biotechnology products, with the second largest number of biotechnology companies in the world. International Trade Canada (ITCan) is actively promoting Canadian capability in biotechnology in the international marketplace. ITCan works to open up market opportunities for Canadian biotechnology products, manage trade relationships and support Canadian businesses.
By working with other government departments and agencies, it assists biotechnology companies in getting the best possible access to foreign markets and that they receive fair treatment internationally.
The International Trade Canada Web site has further information.
National Research Council Canada
The National Research Council (NRC) of Canada works with industry, academia, and government to increase the effectiveness for Canada's leading edge technologies by supporting national and international networks and community-based technology groups.
Just to show the importance of biotechnology's growing importance to Canada, NRC's investment in biotechnology research has grown from $80 million in 1998 to $130 million in 2003.
The NRC has organized its biotechnology capability into a key group that includes:
- Plant biotechnology (NRC Plant Biotechnology Institute in Saskatchewan);
- Marine biosciences (NRC Institute for Marine Biosciences in Halifax);
- Biopharmaceutical research (NRC Institute for Biological Sciences in Ottawa;
- NRC Biotechnology Research Institute in Montreal); and
- Biodiagnostics (NRC Institute for Biodiagnostics in Winnipeg).
The National Research Council Web site can provide more information.
Natural Resources Canada
Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) supports the Government of Canada's commitment to the sustainable development of natural resources to retain their economic viability and continue to contribute to a healthy environment and strong communities. Through the support of research and the fostering of innovative practices and technologies, NRCan contributes to successful and sustainable development.
Within NRCan, the Canadian Forest Service has the lead on biotechnology issues and has an important role in science and technology research as well as national policy coordination. This includes research meant to improve the quality of wood fibre, protect forests from insect pests and disease, and speed up the growth of trees for processing. Forest biotechnology allows for good forest management practices, including tree species improvement and protection. This can lead to better conservation practices and improved competitiveness of Canada's forest industry, leading to a higher standard of living and quality of life for Canadians.
Natural Resources Canada maintains a Web site with more information.
Federal/Provincial/Territorial Collaboration
Canada's federal, provincial, and territorial (F/P/T) governments collaborate on various health care policy and programming issues.
The key vehicle for strengthening partnership and collaboration is the Annual Conference of the Federal/Provincial/Territorial Ministers of Health where Canada's ministers of Health discuss a broad range of issues. These ministers are supported by the Conference of Deputy Ministers of Health which holds regular conferences and meetings.
In addition, four advisory committees have been formed comprised of senior officials to discuss health care issues on an ongoing basis and provide advice directly to deputy ministers. These committees are the:
- Advisory Committee on Governance and Accountability;
- Advisory Committee on Health Delivery and Human Resources;
- Advisory Committee on Information and Emerging Technologies; and
- Advisory Committee on Population Health and Health Security.
International Partners
As a member of an international community, Health Canada taps into great resources from abroad, and cooperate with other countries to gain knowledge and research to strengthen our regulatory framework. This includes participation in international expert consultations conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
We are also a member of several international task forces, including:
- The Codex Task Force on Foods Derived from Biotechnology;
- The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Task Force on the Safety of Novel Foods and Feeds;
- The OECD Working Group on Harmonisation of Regulatory Oversight of Biotechnology;
- The OECD Working Party for Biotechnology; and
- The OECD Working Group on Human Health Related Biotechnology, to which we have contributed significant scientific expertise.
Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
On January 29 2000, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted a supplementary agreement to the Convention known as the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The Protocol seeks to protect biological diversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology. It establishes an advance informed agreement (AIA) procedure for ensuring that countries are provided with the information necessary to make informed decisions before agreeing to the import of such organisms into their territory. The Protocol contains reference to a precautionary approach and reaffirms the precaution language in Principle 15 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development. The Protocol also establishes a Biosafety Clearing-House to facilitate the exchange of information on living modified organisms and to assist countries in the implementation of the Protocol.
Canada has yet to ratify the Protocol, which has been in force since September 11, 2003.
Other links that might be of interest are:
