Biology Documents: Companion Documents for Directive 94-08,
Assessment Criteria for Determining Environmental Safety of Plants with Novel Traits

Biology documents are companion documents to Directive 94-08 (Dir94-08), Assessment Criteria for Determining Environmental Safety of Plants with Novel Traits. A biology document is intended to provide background information on the biology of a particular plant species, its centres of origin, its related species, the potential for gene introgression from the plant into relatives, as well as details on the life forms with which it interacts. The conclusions drawn in a biology document only relate to plants with no novel traits of the species in question.

Such species-specific information will serve as a guide for addressing some of the information requirements of Part D of Dir94-08. Specifically, this information will be used to determine whether there are significantly different/altered interactions with other life forms resulting from a plant with novel trait's (PNT) novel gene products, which could potentially cause the PNT to become a weed of agriculture, become invasive of natural habitats, or otherwise interact differently than their counterpart in the environment.

The Biology of Beta vulgaris L. (Sugar Beet)

The Biology of Brassica juncea (Canola/Mustard)

The Biology of Brassica napus L. (Canola/Rapeseed)

The Biology of Brassica rapa L. (Canola/Rapeseed)

The Biology of Glycine max (L.) Merr. (Soybean)

The Biology of Helianthus annus L. (Sunflower)

The Biology of Lens culinaris Medikus (Lentil)

The Biology of Linum usitatissimum L. (Flax)

The Biology of Medicago sativa L. (Alfalfa)

The Biology of Solanum tuberosum L. (Potato)

The Biology of Triticum aestivum L. (Wheat)

The Biology of Triticum turgidum ssp. durum (Durum Wheat)

The Biology of Zea mays L. (Corn/Maize)

These documents are published by the Plant Biosafety Office. For further information please contact:

Plant Biosafety Office
Plant Products Directorate
Canadian Food Inspection Agency
59 Camelot Drive
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0Y9
Telephone: (613) 225-2342
Facsimile: (613) 228-6629