Dear Michelle, I am writing in response to your letter regarding the introduction of genetically modified (GM) alfalfa in Canada. I appreciate receiving your comments about this issue. Please be assured that Canada has one of the most stringent and rigorous regulatory systems in the world. Canada’s regulatory system for products of agricultural biotechnology requires that new products undergo science-based safety assessments before they can be cultivated by a grower, used in livestock feed or made available to the consumer. In 2005, a GM alfalfa underwent food, feed and environmental safety assessments conducted by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) and Health Canada and received authorization. The environmental safety assessment took into account the potential of the plant to become a weed of agriculture or to be invasive of natural habitats; the potential consequences of gene flow to other alfalfa fields and wild relatives (including a consideration of cross-pollination by bees); the potential to increase the activity of a plant pest; and the potential impact on non-target organisms and biodiversity. As part of the environmental safety assessment of GM alfalfa, it was determined that this alfalfa does not present more of an environmental risk than currently commercialized alfalfa varieties in Canada. A summary of this assessment can be found at the following CFIA website: inspection.gc.ca/plants/plants-with-novel-traits/approved-under-review/decision-documents/dd2005-53/eng/1311630531051/1311631992012#a4. Before RR alfalfa could be fully commercialized in Canada, it would be subject to variety registration. This process ensures that quality and safety requirements are met, and facilitates seed certification, the international trade of seed, and the tracking and tracing of varieties in commercial channels. A variety is approved by an independent group of industry experts and is submitted to the CFIA for registration. Proceeding with registration is a business decision which rests with the applicant. In Canada, once a GM crop has been approved for environmental release and obtained other appropriate regulatory approvals, including variety registration for alfalfa, it is considered to be like any other commodity crop. Growers are free to implement identity preservation systems for certain specialized types of production and can co-operate with their neighbours to minimize the impact of surrounding production methods. It is important to us that producers continue to have choice in selecting the agricultural practices and technologies that offer them the most benefits, both economic and environmental. I trust that this information will be of assistance to you. Thank you for taking the time to write with your comments and concerns. Sincerely, Blaine Calkins, MP
Posted on: Thu, 13 Jun 2013 22:55:04 +0000
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