Since writing our first backgrounder, we have continued to research the issues surrounding genetically modified foods, and the legislative options available in the BC context. The issue of GMOs is broad and complex and is tied to many larger questions including: our relationship to our food, the effects of large-scale conventional agriculture on human and animal health and the environment, population growth, global warming, industry funding of science, technological advance and its associated risks, and our ability to ensure a sustainable and secure food supply for the future. It is important to be cognizant of these broader issues in developing a response to GMOs, to ensure a well informed and holistic response that does not have unforeseen adverse consequences. We must also work within the context of BC, using the tools we have at our disposal to most appropriately and effectively respond to the issues and questions associated with GMOs.
Health Canada and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) share responsibility for food policies on health and safety, regulation, and labelling. The BC Liberal government has said that the responsibility for GM products rests solely with the Federal Government (see here and here and here).
However, in 2001, the BC NDP argued that GM labelling is a consumer information matter, which falls under provincial jurisdiction according to the Constitution Act (1867). During second reading of Bill 18 Genetically-Engineered Food Labelling Act, NDP Attorney General Graeme Bowbrick noted “The province has jurisdiction to legislate on a matter of property and civil rights, which is interpreted to include the authority to legislate with regard to consumer protection and consumer information.”
The Food and Agricultural Products Classification Act (2016) gives the Lieutenant Governor in Council the power to make regulations establishing or adopting certification programs, including making regulations respecting the quality standards of food or agricultural products. However, provincial certification will only apply to operators producing and selling their products within BC; those that sell their produce to other provinces will still require federal certification.
In order to fall within BC’s jurisdiction, the impact of any legislation must only be felt within BC and it must not have the effect of prohibiting or controlling the importation of goods into the province. Otherwise, legislation would infringe upon federal jurisdiction over inter-province trade and commerce and therefore be invalid.
Regarding pesticides, a province may prohibit the use of a registered pesticide, or it may add more restrictive conditions on the use of a product than those established under the Pest Control Products Act. This may provide a relevant parallel for the Province’s ability to restrict GM crops that have been approved Federally, or to impose stricter regulations on the use of GM crops within the province.
The BC NDP estimated that mandatory labelling would cost $11.8 million (in today’s dollars; see Note 1 below), which equals 0.1% of total retail food sales in BC. If implemented, mandatory labelling in BC could result in nation-wide labelling by companies, as is happening in the US, where Vermont labelling legislation (going into effect on July 1st, 2016) has led to large companies – including General Mills, Mars and Kellogg – to label their products nationwide.
Many potential legislative responses to GMOs fall under federal jurisdiction, including the approval and regulation of GM crops for growth and sale in Canada.
In BC, two key responses may be warranted. First, the Ministry of Agriculture could establish a robust tracking and monitoring regime, to track where GM crops are grown in BC, and to pro-actively monitor any actual or potential environmental and agricultural effects of GM crops. The Province does not currently track or monitor GM crops in BC. If any action is warranted, we must first identify and fully understand the scope and impact, if any, of GM crops in our province.
Second, BC should establish an expert panel, made up of independent researchers, to assess the current and potential future impacts of GM agriculture in BC, and to assess the jurisdictional ability, logistics, and costs of implementing mandatory labelling in BC or of increasing the regulation or restriction of GM imports into BC. Independence is important since many studies on GMOs are industry funded, but not all. Some evidence suggests that industry funding systematically biases studies towards favourable outcomes (see Note 2)
So what do you think?
Please continue to share your thoughts on what we should do in BC to address potential or perceived concerns associated with certain GM crops.
Note 1: adjusted 2001 NDP estimate ($9 million) for inflation (BC Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General, Regulatory Impact Statement, April, 2001)
Note 2: Healthy People and Communities—Steering Committee, Multi-Sectoral Partnerships Task Group, 2013: Discussion Paper: Public-Private Partnerships with the Food Industry;
Ayevard, P., D. Yach, A.B.Gilmore, and S. Capewell, 2016: Should we welcome food industry funding of public health research? The BMJ, 2016, 353:i2161. doi: 10.1136/bmj.i2161.
7 Comments
Yes discussion on GMO crops can be complicated especially when industry propagandists try to shut down discussions. I will take just one aspect of GMO crops as an example of the harm they do.
GMO mega crops canola, corn, alfalfa, soybeans are bred to be Roundup ready. The crops are then sprayed with tons of Monsanto’s Round-up which contains GLYPHOSATE. This chemical has been proven harmful to humans and animals.
Further than that Round-up is wiping out milkweed the only food of the Monarch butterfly larvae and that has contributed to the alarming decline of the Monarch butterfly.
The above statement is TOTALLY false and based soley on industry funded studies. Many scientists are coming forward expressing that they were threatened to remain silent about their findings opposing GMO’s or instructed to publish the study in favor of, despite their findings. It is a fallacy that GMO’s are needed to feed the increasing population. Its a fallacy they increase yields. We are producing twice as much food as needed already, our problem lies in distribution of that food to people I. Need. Statements like the one above keep us pigeonholed in the destructive version of agriculture we currently are modeling. GE plants and animals are detrimental to our heritage and biodiversity. Not to mention the Impact of toxic pesticides on humans, soil, oceans, animals and plant life. Perhaps even more detrimental than global warming itself. We must use solutions found in nature to move forward if we are have a healthy future for our children and life on earth. Using permaculture principles will help to restore fertile soil alleviating the need for pesticides, help with reforestation, sequestering carbon from the atmosphere and putting it back where it belongs, in the soil. We need to take a holistic approach to agriculture if we are to protect humans and every other species of life on earth. The research is done. The information is out there. We need to stop with this destructive Monocropping corporate exploitation model.
The biggest issue I have with GMOs is their unknown impact on the human body, such as a potential disruption of the billions of bacteria in our digestive systems upon which we depend heavily for our good health. We really should have been using the precautionary principle since day one, but since we haven’t, we absolutely should label foods that contain GMOs.
Mr Cliffe ! You must not read very much if you have seen no proof of the problems with genetically altered foods . I agree with Diane McLaren, that we all deserve to know the facts con
cerning the problems with genetic alteration that are well documented.
GMO’s banned in 19 countries. Long term safety untested. Most claims of reduced pesticides, enhanced productivity etc proven bogus, can we believe the claims for this product. Corporate control of seeds/food production, yeah we can trust profit mongers that routinely hide things like the ills of tobacco. Unlabeled so consumer used as unwitting/unwilling guinea pigs and unable to make own decisions. What bought and paid for government bureaucrat made this idiotic decision? What should be done 1) ban and barring 1 then 2) label
We have the right to know whether our food is GMO or not.
Our choice. No excuse for companies to object to the cost of labelling. Our health is at stake.
GM food have never been shown to be a risk to health. In some cases they provide more benefit than non-GM foods. (vis. Golden rice) Unfortunately, emotion, fear and dogma have come to dominate the discussion. It may be difficult, but I think we need to get the public conversation back to a real, evidence based level.