International Cooperation

The CFIA helps Canada fulfill its commitment to being a good global citizen by engaging with other governments and international institutions.  This allows us to promote the safe, science-based regulation of biotechnology- derived agricultural products.

Officials from the CFIA meet regularly with their counterparts from other countries in a variety of fora.  This gives our regulators the chance to learn from the experiences of other countries and it gives other countries the opportunity to learn about Canada's regulatory system.  This dialogue helps us acquire new skills and capabilities, which help us do our jobs better and allow us to keep pace with changes in the constantly evolving field of biotechnology.

Biosafety Clearing House

The Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH) is an Internet-based tool that allows users to search domestic and international biosafety information. In addition to providing public access to biosafety information, it allows countries to exchange scientific, technical, environmental and legislative information about living modified organisms (LMOs) produced through modern biotechnology.

• Biosafety Clearing House
• Canadian Node of the Biosafety Clearing-House

Asia Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC)

• Reports and Publications

High Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology (HLPDAB)

Created in 2001, the High Level Policy Dialogue on Agricultural Biotechnology works to enhance communication and technical exchange among senior government officials on policy issues related to biotechnology. The HLPDAB reports directly to the APEC's Senior Officials.

Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group (ATCWG)

The Agricultural Technical Cooperation Working Group (ATCWG) continuously develops a cooperative scheme in the field of agricultural technology in the APEC region. This scheme is designed to improve the economic development and social welfare of APEC Member Economies by improving agricultural cooperation and capacity building.

Research, Development and Extension of Agricultural Biotechnology (RDEAB)

As a sub-group of the Agricultural Technology Cooperation Working Group (ATCWG) the Research, Development and Extension of Agricultural Biotechnology (RDEAB) group currently focuses on developing transparent, science-based approaches for risk assessment and management, fostering technical cooperation, encouraging effective communication, transparency and information exchange and building capacity.