Does Canada Need Bill C-474? – Interview With MP Alex Atamanenko, NDP

[ward.toma]

Responsible Introduction of New
Agricultural Products (RIONAP) was the
focus of a CWB led policy discussion
that would have investigated the
cost/benefit of new ag products prior to
approval in Canada. It was a partial
response to the potential introduction
of RR wheat.

The Government of Canada had issues with
its potential to be in violation of
outstanding trade agreements and
international treaties.

The NFU opposed it as
well(http://www.nfu.ca/ufq/newsletter/uf
_june_2005.pdf).

Thus it died but has been partially
reborn as Bill C 474.

[TOM4CWB]

WD9,

All this proves to me... is that you can't enact legislation to stop stupidity!!!

Too much of anything... without balance... will kill us!

[wd9]

Would be a shame to lose the science based reg system.

[TOM4CWB]

WD9,

Would you like to buy some ocean front property is SK? I bet you can buy many beaches at cheap discount prices!

Politics is Politics... no matter what country you are from... ESPECIALLY when it comes to the food people eat!

How much science was in 'Mad Cow'? If it was... wouldn't we test every animal we eat?

[shaney]

Tom,
You are hitting the exact reason we cannot
approve bill 474. Using mad cow as the example,
we were subjected to non scientific decisions buy
our beef trading country partners. The trade of
beef was cut off because of mainly non-scienific
reasons.

Why would we commit the same mistake with seed
genetics. Handing over our regulatory system to
foreign political interests is not at all in the best
interests of farmers.

[TOM4CWB]

Shaney,

Reality CHECK:

" Handing over our regulatory system to
foreign political interests is not at all in the best
interests of farmers."

As long as agriculture in Canada... is over 80% export based: 'foreign political interests' will CONTROL what we grow!

Telling the 'king' you like his suit... when he has no cloths on... does not change reality!

[charliep]

Given the proposed bill as worded, what would government/industry
do differently than is being done today? At the research and
development stage? At the commercialization stage? Does the bill
present a risk that someone could go 90 % of the way through the
commercialization process and have the new variety pulled for
political reasons? Would anyone invest in seed R & D inn Canada
when they face this type of risk?

Bill wording -2. The Governor in Council shall, within
60 days after this Act comes into force,
amend the Seeds Regulations to require
that an analysis of potential harm to
export markets be conducted before the
sale of any new genetically engineered
seed is permitted.

[charliep]

If you ever want to get into an interesting discussion, ask a plant
breeder about their thoughts about current plant with novel trait
regulation and impact on breeding programs.

[charliep]

Shaun

I note your comment that the bill wouldn't have worked for triffid flaxseed because hadn't been commercialized. Will note the variety have gone through the Canadian regulatory process, had been approved and was in the midst of multiplication from breeder seed. To me the process of commercialization begins at varietal approval. Whatever rules are in place from bill C-474 would have to occur prior to varietal registration. If varieties were not developed in Canada (i.e. like alfalfa), the approval would have to be before release.

Again not sure how the process would work and the risk plant breeders and from there the seed industry would bear given would have to get European approval for almost everything that is developed. It would seem to me to add 2 to 5 years on the release of a new variety. Currently takes 10 to 12 years.

[TOM4CWB]

Charlie,

Truly, if gm flax had been approved BEFORE release of the seed to Canadian seed growers... breeder farms included... we would not have contaminated the worlds flax supplies.

I still can not understand how the gm event got into new varieties not yet released!

It just does not add up!

If gm contamination is this easily spread... safeguards must be in place.

If oil well blowouts can't be fixed 5000ft down...on the ocean floor; we shouldn't be drilling there!

Isn't this just common sense?

[charliep]

No one here but us Tom. You can correct me but Triffed flaxseed had gone through the Canadian process for regulatory approval and was in the process of multiplication. The current Canadian process does not include an evaluation of market access or acceptance as a regulatory requirement.

The bill as I understand from the one sentence statement of intent is too include as market evaluation as a part of the regulatory structure. The overall impact would be in the details and how it would be done. Likely to put Canada in the quagmire that Europe finds itself in on new biotech.