Article summary and key findings

¶ … Peter Andree entitled "GM Food Regulation: An Analysis of Efforts to Improve Genetically Modified Food Regulation in Canada." Andree reports on a trade dispute of an ongoing nature over genetically modified organisms occurring between the European Union and the United States and Canada reporting that a "more precautionary approach" has been witnessed recently in regulating GMOs. Andree examines the regulatory approaches toward GMOs.

According to Andree (2006), the regulatory approach in Canada has been influenced greatly by the model in the United States and there have been more than sixty genetically modified foods that Canada has approved upon the basis of "limited sets of compositional and nutritional data" demonstrating the "substantial equivalence to products already on the market." (Andree, 2006, p.377-8) Andree states that there are major differences in the data requirements for GM regulation between that of the European Union and the United States and Canada. The EC regulations are reported to require scientific evaluation of an extensive nature of these GMOs before their release and that the regulations require the accounting of "indirect, immediate, delayed, or unforeseen effect of GMOs" in addition to the "potential cumulative long-term effects associated with the interaction with other GMOs and the environment." (Andree, 2006, p. 378) The regulations state requirements for labeling and traceability as well as making provision of consent that is time-limited as well as requiring monitoring following their release. EC requirements include a notification procedure as well as the right of the public to access environmental risk assessments.

The European Union's approach to regulation of GMOs is reported to be "clearly more cautious" than the regulatory approaches used by the United States and Canada. An expert panel in Canada resulted in a more precautionary approach to the GMOs. IN addition, Health Canada responded to the limitations of testing of allergenicity to a focus on surveillance of the GMOs post-market for identification of the impacts of biotechnologically derived products that were not desired.

Environmental assessment has also been at focus in Canada with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Environment Canada, the primary agencies holding responsibility for environmental assessment of GMOs agreeing with recommendations that prior to GM crop release that they undergo an ecological risk assessment of a thorough nature. Peer review is one of the primary measures set out for the GMO assessment. Also stated is a requirement for a long-term monitoring of the development of insect resistance when GMOs that contain insecticidal properties are used. A study conducted in Canada reports that farmers are not being provided enough information concerning insecticide use.