This framework contains six key principles that have served as guidance for the federal departments in developing regulatory changes, guidelines, and policies. In Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, guidelines have been developed this year that allow for the environmental release of canola, flax, potatoes, and corn. The traditional approach to making regulatory decisions has been based on internationally accepted standards. Components of this process include risk assessment, risk management, and risk communication based on sound scientific methodologies, and international standards for procedures have been adopted wherever possible. Risk management and risk communication deal with costs and benefits.
Risk management is an important component of decision-making.
Trade realities also need to be considered, particularly for countries not as advanced in the development and regulation of products developed using new methods of biotechnology such as genetic engineering. More recently, there is increasing recognition that social, cultural, and ethical issues need to be taken into account in the making of risk management decisions. Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada is in the initial stages of determining ways in which these factors can be taken into account in a transparent manner. To be credible, a process for public input may need to be developed. It is possible such a process would be triggered by key agreed-upon principles.