Elements of precaution: recommendations for the regulation of food biotechnology in Canada

• Published in: Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A Vol. 64; no. 1-2; pp. 1 - 210
• Main Authors: Barnett, Spencer CH, Beare-Rogers, Joyce L, Brunk, Conrad G, Caulfield, Timothy A, Ellis, Brian E, tin, Marc G, Ham Pong, Anthony J
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England 01.09.2001
• Subjects: Agriculture - standards; Animals; Animals, Genetically Modified; Biotechnology - standards; Canada; Crops, Agricultural - standards; Food Technology - standards; Genetic Engineering - standards; Humans; Plants, Genetically Modified; Risk Assessment; Canada
• ISSN: 1528-7394

The future directions in the development of agricultural biotechnology in Canada are considered by summarizing the scientific developments that have led to the current status of application of the technology. The system in place to regulate agricultural biotechnology in the country is outlined, and the implementation of an independent process for auditing of the scientific and ethical aspects of regulatory decision-making is recommended. An assessment is then presented of the short- and long-term risks that should be most important for regulatory concern in Canada, focusing on the direct risks to human health posed by genetically modified foods, the potential direct impacts of genetic engineering on the health and welfare of agricultural animals, as well as the indirect impacts on wild animals, and the most significant potential risks to various aspects of the natural environment posed by agricultural biotechnology. Finally, critical methodological approaches and assumptions underlying current and proposed regulatory practices in this area are explored, looking at the concept of substantial equivalence, the validity and relevance of the Precautionary Principle in the regulation of agricultural biotechnologies, and the importance of maintaining the integrity of science upon which the regulation of agricultural biotechnology should be based. The final recommendations proposed by the expert panel that reviewed the science are provided.