To make labelling for choice mandatory versus voluntary, it would unfairly impose added costs on people who do not wish to or cannot afford to bear the added cost. Foods produced using biotechnology must meet the stringent safety requirements upheld by Health Canada, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency and Environment Canada. Only those foods judged to be as safe as their conventional counterparts are approved for human consumption. This rigorous, science-based process protects human health, the health of animals and the environment. The association represents Canadian health care, agri-food, research and other organizations working to bring the economic and social benefits of biotechnology to Canadians.
Biotechnology is the use of living organisms to create or improve products.
It is an important tool that provides benefits now and for the future. In food production, it gives farmers new options to better manage insects, diseases and weeds that threaten our food supply and promises to allow us to remove allergens from foods as well as improve the nutrition and taste. Codex is an international food standards body comprised of 164 member countries, including Canada and the United States. It coordinates the development of international food standards aimed at protecting consumer health and ensuring fair practices in the global food trade.