Flax

Market Status

Genetically modified (GM or genetically engineered) flax seed is not sold in Canada. It has never been grown and sold on the consumer market. Nonetheless, in 2009, Canadian exports were found contaminated by a GM flax developed in Canada.

Background

Canada is the world’s leader in the production and export of flax. Flax is one of Canada’s five major cash-crops, alongside wheat, barley, oats and canola.

A GM flax (tolerant to herbicide residues in soil) was developed by controversial scientist and industry proponent Alan McHughen when he worked for the Crop Development Centre (CDC) at the University of Saskatchewan. McHughen called the GM flax, “CDC Triffid” in reference to John Whyndham’s 1951 horror novel, “The Day of the Triffids” which features terrifying flesh eating plants farmed for oil. The flax was developed with public money through provincial government funding to the CDC. However, the CDC halted its GM research after a prolonged public controversy.

The “CDC Triffid” was approved by Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in 1996/1998 but was never commercially grown in Canada. In 2001 about 40 seed growers were multiplying 200,000 bushels of seed for future use but this was all crushed when the flax was taken off the market that year.

In 2001, the Flax Council of Canada and the Saskatchewan Flax Development Commission, representing farmers, convinced the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to remove variety registration for the GM flax, in order to protect the markets for flax exports (around 60% of Canada’s flax exports went to Europe).

In late 2009, the European Commission’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed confirmed contamination of Canadian flax exports with the genetically modified flax. Contamination was confirmed in cereals, bakery products, baking mixes and nut/seed products. Canada’s exports to Europe were halted.

GM Flax Timeline

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency has verified the below timetable that CBAN constructed:

1996: GM “CDC Triffid” flax granted environmental release approval from Agriculture Canada (The CFIA was not yet formed).
1996: Triffid flax granted variety registration from Agriculture Canada.
1996: Triffid flax approved for animal feed – animal health assessment and worker health and safety, handling – from Agriculture Canada
1998: Health Canada approval for human consumption as food granted.
2001 (April 1): Triffid deregistered by the CFIA, making it illegal to sell the seeds in Canada.
2009: European Union detects GM flax contamination in Canadian flax.

GM Contamination Crisis

Summary

In late 2009, the European Commission’s Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed confirmed contamination of Canadian flax exports with the genetically modified flax. Contamination was confirmed in cereals, bakery products, baking mixes and nut/seed products. GM flax is not approved for human consumption in the following 35 countries where contamination reached in September and October 2009 – closing down these export markets: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg, Mauritius, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of Korea, Romania, Singapore, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, United Kingdom, Japan.

The economic consequences of flax contamination were severe for Canadian growers. Canada is the world’s leader in flax production and export; flax is one of Canada’s five major cash crops, along with wheat, barley, oats and canola. In late 2009, the European market, which accounted for 68% of Canada’s flax exports, was closed to Canadian flax. Flax acreage in Canada was down by 47% the year after contamination was found and has not entirely recovered. Canada is still struggling to regain its European market. The total cost of this contamination incident to the Canadian industry is estimated at $29.1 million. For further details see CBAN’s GMO Inquiry report “Are GM Crops Better for Farmers?”

History of the Crisis

“GE contamination is already costing the taxpayer. The fact that the Harper Government recently pledged up to $1.9 million to help companies pay for testing flax seed is evidence that GE contamination can cost the Canadian government – and this is without the government compensating farmers for their testing costs or market loss. Contamination is inevitable and these costs will keep reoccurring.” – Lucy Sharratt, CBAN Coordinator, from March 16, 2010 Press Release Parliament to debate the need for export market acceptance before commercial release

April 11, 2010: Some Members of Parliament were repeating the wrong information that GE “Triffid” flax was never commercially approved in Canada. This article corrected that information: Is the biotech industry deliberately misleading Members of Parliament?

March 4, 2010: Farm saved flax seed protected! Grain company Viterra and others wanted to force farmers wishing to grow flax in 2010 for Europe to abandon their farm-saved seed and purchase certified seed instead. The industry failed in this attempt. The reversal was announced by the Flax Council of Canada after it learned that that breeder seed samples from three more flax varieties (that makes five in total!) have tested positive for GE contamination! Farmers were very clear that they wanted to keep their saved seed. About 75% of Canada’s flax farmers use farm-saved seed. “The best solution is to test the seed supply, both farm-saved seed and certified seed,” said National Farmers Union President and flax producer Terry Boehm. Buying certified seed would have added another cost to farmers who face lower prices and market uncertainty, and are already paying for testing and cleanup.

March 4, 2010: Bill C-474 would stop GM seeds from creating market chaos as seen in the current flax contamination crisis.

January 18, 2010: Press Release, “Grain Companies Exploit Flax Situation to tighten vise on farmer seed saving” National Farmers Union.

November 18, 2009 : 35 Countries hit by GM flax contamination as Japan finds contamination.

October 29, 2009: Flax contamination briefing for Members of Parliament.

October 5, 2009 – Press Release: GM Flax Contamination from Canada Soars to 28 Countries: But Canadian farmers still have no answers

October 2, 2009 – Update: Protest at Canadian Consulate in Luxembourg over GM flax contamination from Canada, “GMO Cultivation = EU Contamination”.

September 10, 2009 – Press release: Illegal GM Flax Contaminates Canadian Exports: Contamination of European food threatens Canadian export markets