In Canada PNTs are regulated on the basis of the characteristics of the product, not the specific process by which the product was made. Therefore products of traditional breeding or mutagenesis as well as the products of recombinant DNA technology may be considered PNTs and regulated under the Seeds Act . As an example, a PNT that is herbicide resistant as a result of mutation breeding, selection of naturally occurring variants or by the use of recombinant DNA technology will require an environmental assessment before it can be released. The important considerations, in terms of the PNTs environmental interactions, is the herbicide resistance trait and the crop species. The Safety Based Model for regulation of PNTs is based on the concepts of familiarity and substantial equivalence.
Familiarity applies to the species, the trait, and cultivation practices.
The last step, Variety Registration which leads to full commercialization of the product, is required prior to advertising or sale, in Canada, of most major crops. A description of the trait conferred to the novel plant, usually including details on the inserted genes, gene products and the methods used to achieve the modification. A description of the field trial site including precise maps, proximity to sensitive ecological areas. The trial protocol- Details such as seeding dates, pesticide use, isolation conditions, monitoring provisions. Isolation and post harvest land use restrictions imposed on field tests are based on the biology of the species in question.