Background information on genetically modified material found in Canadian flaxseed

Low levels of genetically modified material found in Canadian flaxseed

• Beginning in July 2009, several European Union Member States detected the presence of unapproved genetically modified material in shipments of Canadian flaxseed. Due to its zero tolerance for unapproved genetically modified material, the European Union halted Canadian flaxseed shipments.
• In response to the European Union’s findings, the Canadian Grain Commission tested samples of Canadian flaxseed and found traces of FP967, also known as CDC Triffid.

FP967

• FP967 or CDC Triffid, was developed in the 1990s by the Crop Development Centre at the University of Saskatchewan. It was approved for use in feed and for unconfined environmental release in 1996. It was also approved for use in food in 1998 in both Canada and the United States.
• There are no safety concerns with the presence of FP967 in Canadian flaxseed, since it passed stringent food and feed safety testing as part of the Government of Canada’s genetically modified organism approval process.
• Due to industry concerns over market access to Europe, FP967 never entered commercial production and in 2001, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency deregistered it at the request of the developer.
• The Canadian Grain Commission, with the cooperation of the Canadian flaxseed industry, is conducting an investigation into the presence or FP967 within the Canadian flaxseed supply. Initial tests have confirmed the presence of some genetically modified material in the Canadian flaxseed supply. However it is too early to draw any conclusions on the geographic presence of FP967, or to speculate on its origin.
• As sampling and testing continues, the Canadian Grain Commission is hopeful more meaningful conclusions will become available, but it is possible that the actual source of the FP967 may never be identified.

Protocol development

• The Canadian Grain Commission and the Flax Council of Canada, along with other Canadian government departments and agencies, developed a protocol for sampling and testing Canadian flaxseed shipments to the European Union.
• Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency were involved in the development of the protocol.
• The objective of the protocol is to help the Canadian flaxseed industry meet the European Union’s strict import requirements, which include a zero tolerance for unapproved genetically modified material.
• The protocol was submitted to European officials the week of October 19, 2009. Canadian Grain Commission officials traveled to Brussels, to explain the Canadian grain handling and quality assurance systems and answer questions on aspects of the protocol.
• The European Commission recommended to individual European Union Member States that the protocol be accepted. The European Commission expressed its satisfaction with the protocol on October 29, 2009. At present, the imposition of emergency measures by individual Member States in the European Union has been avoided.
• The acceptance of the protocol is only the first step in resuming Canadian flaxseed shipments to the European Union. Many details concerning the implementation of the protocol are currently in development.