An advocacy coalition of farmers and environmental organizations is calling on Health Canada to implement mandatory labelling requirements for pork derived from gene-edited pigs recently approved for sale in Canada.
Earlier this year, Health Canada approved the sale of pigs genetically edited to resist Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus (PRRSV), a disease that can cause severe illness and death in swine herds.
The federal agency stated that the PRRSV-resistant pigs do not pose a greater risk to human health than conventional pigs and that there are no differences in nutritional value.
Health Canada also determined that, because no health or safety concerns were identified, no special labelling would be required.
Aside from the deletion of a small gene segment that makes pigs susceptible to PRRSV infection, the animals are considered identical to pigs currently raised on Canadian farms.
However, the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network argues that consumers should have the right to know whether the pork they are purchasing comes from genetically engineered animals.
Currently, Canadian law does not require mandatory labelling of genetically engineered foods, though voluntary standards exist.
Those standards are overseen by the Canadian General Standards Board, which is scheduled to close March 31, creating additional uncertainty about the future of voluntary labelling.
The advocacy letter sent to federal Health Minister Marjorie Michel argues that mandatory labelling is essential, particularly as gene-editing technology continues to evolve and more products could enter the marketplace.