The CEO of the Global Institute for Food Security (GIFS) at the University of Saskatchewan is applauding Health Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA), and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) following the regulatory approval of the PRRS-resistant pig, which was developed using gene-editing technology.
The approval, which was announced in January, is in line with the Government of Canada’s previous science-based policy developments updating the regulatory guidelines for novel plants in Canada.
These updates have opened the door to the commercialization of food products that use gene-editing technology to make precise changes in the DNA of animals, plants, and microorganisms.
“Gene editing is one of the most important tools we have to advance global food security,” said GIFS CEO Dr. Steven R. Webb (PhD).
“By making precise changes that could also occur naturally, gene editing offers a safe and efficient way to advance resilient and sustainable food production.”
The approval of the gene-edited pigs, which are resistant to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus, demonstrates how Canada’s regulatory bodies can provide a framework for researchers and industry to foster innovation without compromising safety, said Webb.
The regulators’ review, which included extensive public consultation, found the gene-edited pigs were identical to other pigs.
“I applaud Canadian regulators for making decisions that align with other leading jurisdictions and providing a transparent, predictable, science-based framework that Canadians can be confident in. Health Canada’s approach continues to be the right one, delivering transparency within its science-based decision-making and only engaging in mandatory labelling when there are health and safety factors,” said Webb.
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