Labelling – Action Alert
Stop the attempt to mislabel some new GMOs as non-GMO
January 2026: Biotechnology companies are not satisfied with a lack of mandatory labelling for genetically modified organisms (GMOs) in Canada, they are trying to change the rules so that new gene-edited GMOs can be labelled as non-GMO.
The standard for “Voluntary Labelling and Advertising of Foods That Are and Are Not Products of Genetic Engineering” is up for review. Together with organic farming groups and other associations, CBAN succeeded in removing a change that would have allowed food companies to mislabel some gene-edited GMOs as non-genetically engineered. (Click here to see the change we removed – see page 9, “genetic engineering” under Terms and Definitions.) This labelling standard is now out for public comment.
Please take 5 minutes to help us make sure that gene-edited foods are not allowed to be labelled as non-genetically engineered. Send your comments before midnight EST time, January 23, 2026.
Submit your comments
The standard CAN/CGSB 32.315 – Voluntary Labelling and Advertising of Foods That Are and Are Not Products of Genetic Engineering is being reviewed and a new draft standard is open for public comment until midnight EST on January 23, 2026.
It will only take 5 minutes to fill out the simple “Public review form” on the website. Here are suggested answers:
The “public review form” will ask you for your organization, full name, and email address. If you are not submitting comments on behalf of an organization, you can enter “Individual member of the public” or something similar. The form will then ask you:
“Provide specific clause”: Please write “Terms and Definitions”
“Type of comment”: A drop-down menu will give you a choice of “Editorial”, “General” or “Technical”. Choose “Technical”.
“Describe the change you are proposing” (We are not proposing a change, we are supporting the draft standard as proposed – here is suggested wording):
The removal of the “note” that had excluded genome editing (gene editing) from the definition of genetic engineering is a positive and necessary change. It is important that the definition of genetic engineering in the voluntary labelling standard includes the use of genome editing techniques.
The federal government should establish mandatory labelling of all genetically engineered foods, including genome-edited foods, to provide transparency and enable informed choice.
“Rationale”:
Consumers need truthful labelling of all genetically engineered foods on the market to make informed choices. Genome editing techniques are techniques of genetic engineering. Exempting some genetically engineered products or techniques of genetic engineering, for example those of genome editing, from the standard to label foods that are or are not of genetic engineering would be misleading. Excluding genome editing from the standard would not be understandable or informative for consumers and could lead to false claims that genome edited products are non-GE.
Click here to send your comments before January 23, 2026.
Contact us if you have questions or need support.
