Information for the general public

Current Issues Being Examined by the PBO

The PBO is committed to public engagement on emerging issues. Public and stakeholder input are gathered to guide the PBO and strengthen its policies. The following links provide information on current issues being examined by the Plant Biosafety Office.

General Information on Biotechnology

  • The resource centre contains information that will help you understand what biotechnology is and how regulatory decisions about biotechnology-derived products are made.

Fact Sheets on Plant Biotechnology

Flow Chart - Regulation of Plants with Novel Traits in Canada

This image is a flow chart showing the regulation of plants with novel traits

Description for: The Regulation of Plants with Novel Traits in Canada

This image is a flow chart showing the regulation of plants with novel traits in Canada.

At the top of the image is a box that says:

  • Introduction of plant with novel traits
    Developed domestically or imported (Dir96-13)
    Canadian Food Inspection Agency Import Permit Application

This box has three arrows coming from it. The arrow on the far left points toward a box that says:

  • Unconfined Environmental Release
    Canadian Food Inspection Agency environmental safety assessment (Dir94-08), based on biology document and data submitted by applicants, and authorization with stewardship conditions.
    Decision documents

The middle arrow leaves the top box and points to a box that says:

  • Contained Use
    Canada’s Laboratory Biosafety Guidelines are recommended

This box has two arrows coming from it. The arrow on the far left points toward the box that says:

  • Unconfined Environmental Release
    Canadian Food Inspection Agency environmental safety assessment (Dir94-08), based on biology document and data submitted by applicants, and authorization with stewardship conditions.
    Decision documents

The arrow on the right, and the remaining arrow from the box at the top of the flow chart, both point to a box that says:

  • Confined Release
    Canadian Food Inspection Agency assessment (Dir2000-07), authorization and inspection.

This box has one arrow coming from it which points to the box that says:

  • Unconfined Environmental Release
    Canadian Food Inspection Agency environmental safety assessment (Dir94-08), based on biology document and data submitted by applicants, and authorization with stewardship conditions.
    Decision documents

Under this box is a paragraph that says:

When applicable, processes below may also be required prior to authorization for unconfined release and/or sale in Canada.

There are three boxes below this paragraph. The box on the left says:

Health Canada Novel Food assessment and authorization

The middle box says:

Canadian Food Inspection Agency Novel Feed assessment and authorization

The box on the right says:

Canadian Food Inspection Agency Variety Registration