If requested, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) can:
- review information about new plant lines, and
- provide advice on whether the line is considered novel for the purposes of environmental release in Canada
The products in this list have been determined to be non-novel by the CFIA, when means that they are considered to be equivalent in terms of their use and safety to those already present in Canada. Learn how to request an environmental release novelty determination from the CFIA.
| Date of determination | Product name | Species | Developer | Technology Table note 1 | Characteristic(s) | Mechanism(s) of action |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-06-12 | sbe sextuple mutant | Canola (Brassica napus) | University of Guelph | Gene editing – CRISPR/Cas9 | Thickened stems / reduced and modified starch content | Mutations in 6 Starch Branching Enzymes (SBE), which mediate starch granule synthesis. |
| 2024-06-12 | sbe quadruple mutant | Canola (Brassica napus) | University of Guelph | Gene editing – CRISPR/Cas9 | Reduced and modified starch content | Mutations in 4 Starch Branching Enzymes (SBE), which mediate starch granule synthesis. |
| 2022-05-18 | IQ Alfalfa | Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) | Calyxt Inc. | Gene editing | Modified forage quality through altered lignin polymer composition | Mutation in a gene involved in monolignol biosynthesis. |
| 2021-12-23 | High Oleic Soybean | Soybean (Glycine max L.) | Calyxt Inc. | Gene editing | Increased oleic oil content and decreased fatty acids | Mutations in alleles of a gene that catalyze the conversion of oleic acid to linoleic polyunsaturated fatty acid |
| 2020-02-25 | Next Generation Waxy corn | Corn (Zea mays) | Pioneer Hi-Bred Canada Company | Gene editing - CRISPR/Cas9 | High amylopectin starch | Deletion of a gene involved in amylose production |
This list will be updated periodically as new novelty determinations are completed.
Since seeking advice from the CFIA for novelty determination is optional, this list only shows products where the developer agreed to participate. CFIA encourages participation, which helps to:
- support a consistent understanding of CFIA's novelty guidance, through real-world examples
- increase transparency about non-novel products of plant breeding that may be used in Canada
- allow interested parties to verify what types of traits are considered non-novel
More information
Proponents remain responsible for notifying CFIA of all novel plant lines. Plants with novel traits must be assessed and authorized prior to release in Canada.
Developers are responsible for correctly understanding and applying the CFIA guidance in their novelty determinations. Novelty for use as food or as animal feed is determined separately. Prior to any use in Canada, a product must meet all applicable statutory and regulatory requirements, such as requirements that relate to quality and purity.
- List of authorized plants with novel traits
- Novelty and plants with novel traits
- Directive 2009-09: Plants with novel traits regulated under Part V of the Seeds Regulations: Guidelines for determining when to notify the CFIA
- Rationale for updated guidelines for determining whether a plant is regulated under Part V of the Seeds Regulations (directive 2009-09)