Topics Approved Products Factsheets Guidelines & Policies Regulation

Genetically Modified (GM) Foods and Other Novel Foods

What are Novel Foods and Genetically Modified (GM) Foods?

Novel Foods are:

• Foods resulting from a process not previously used for food.
• Products that do not have a history of safe use as a food.
• Foods that have been modified by genetic manipulation, also known as genetically modified foods, GM foods, genetically engineered foods or biotechnology-derived foods.

Health Canada's Role?

Health Canada assesses the safety of all genetically-modified and other novel foods proposed for sale in Canada. Companies are required to submit detailed scientific data for review and approval by Health Canada, before such foods can be sold.

What Information is Available?

In this section, you will find resources, fact sheets and a comprehensive FAQ page. You can access a list of recent Health Canada approvals of novel foods, as well as regulations and guidelines for the safety assessment of novel foods.

• Definition of a "Novel Food" (Food and Drug Regulations)
• Biotechnology section of Health Canada Web site
• Action Plan of the Government of Canada and Progress Reports
• Pilot project: Biotechnology Transparency Project

Related Sites

• FAO/WHO and Codex Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Task Force on Foods derived from Biotechnology
• OECD Task Force on Safety of Novel Foods and Feeds