What is the role of the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA)?
The CFIA has expertise in animal health and has jurisdiction in this area under the Health of Animals Act. Environment Canada consults the CFIA on animal health matters during the process of assessing the animals. In addition, the CFIA is responsible for assuring that diseases do not spread between animals. When someone wants to apply to manufacture, import, or sell to Canada any animal derived through biotechnology, they are required to submit technical documentation related to the animal’s health to support their application. The CFIA analyzes the documentation and helps to evaluate the submissions. (If the biotechnology-derived animal is a fish, the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada will participate in the assessment and will provide advice. For more information, refer to the CFIA fact sheet, “Fish Products Derived Through Modern Biotechnology: Roles and Responsibilities of the Government of Canada”).
