Press Releases
AquaBounty to stop producing GM salmon in Canada, as world’s first GM food animal struggles to find a market
February 7, 2023. In a major turn-around, the US company AquaBounty says it will stop producing its controversial genetically modified (GM or genetically engineered) Atlantic salmon in Prince Edward Island (PEI), Canada.
Federal government abandons safety assessments and transparency for new gene-edited foods
May 18, 2022, Halifax – Consumer, environmental, and farmer groups across Canada are denouncing an announcement today from Health Canada that will allow private companies to release many new genetically engineered (genetically modified or GM) foods without any...
Federal ministers urged to reject proposals to remove government safety checks of some GMOs as new polling confirms most Canadians want public regulation
April 28, 2022 – The Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) is renewing its call for the federal Ministers of Health and of Agriculture and Agri-Food, Jean-Yves Duclos and Marie-Claude Bibeau, to reject proposals to remove government oversight of some...
World’s first ecosystem contamination from GM fish adds to Canadian concern
February 23, 2022, Halifax, Ottawa, Sutton - For years, environmental groups in numerous countries have warned about the potential escape of genetically engineered animals into the wild. Now it has happened. Researchers in Brazil have published a paper documenting the...
Health Canada abandons regulation of new GM foods, negotiates voluntary transparency with biotechnology companies
December 8, 2021, Halifax - Consumer, environmental, and farmer groups across Canada are denouncing new regulatory changes expected to be published today by Health Canada that will allow private corporations to release onto the market many new genetically engineered...
Calls for government transparency on GMO foods redouble as research reveals concern and government proposes regulatory change
October 20, 2021. Halifax. Today, seven agriculture, food, and consumer groups asked Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to ensure transparency and continued government oversight of all genetically engineered foods and seeds (genetically modified organisms or GMOs) in...
Civil society coalition raises alarm over safety and transparency as Health Canada proposes to abandon oversight of some new GMOs from gene editing
May 11, 2021: Today, the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network (CBAN) submitted its objections to proposals from Health Canada that would allow product developers to assess the safety of some genetically engineered (genetically modified or GM) foods, particularly some produced through genome editing (also called gene editing) with no government oversight.
Health Canada proposes to remove regulation for some GMOs
Groups call for mandatory safety assessments for all genetically engineered foods March 26, 2021, Montreal and Halifax - Yesterday, Health Canada released proposals that would remove some genetically engineered (commonly called genetically modified) foods from...
Four of Canada’s Five Major Grocery Chains Fail Transparency Test on GMOs
December 17, 2020: A new report released today ranks Canada’s major grocery retailers for their transparency on sales of genetically modified (GM) whole foods: fruits and vegetables, and the GM salmon. Out of Canada’s five major grocery chains, only Quebec/Ontario chain Metro provided clear answers for consumers.
GM “Golden Rice” Approved as Safe to Eat in Philippines But Ability to Provide Vitamin A Remains Unevaluated
December 20, 2019. The Government of the Philippines has approved the genetically engineered (genetically modified or GM) “Golden Rice” for human consumption, though the rice’s ability to provide Vitamin A remains unevaluated and it is not yet approved for cultivation. If the other necessary approvals follow, this could be the first-ever GM rice grown in the world.
