Dive Brief:
- The Canadian government is weighing in on possible changes to its GMO policy, which could allow a "low level presence" of genetically modified contamination in the food it imports.
- At the moment, food containing GMOs must be assessed and deemed safe by regulator Health Canada before it can be permitted into the country.
- The change in regulation is not a done deal, as it faces criticism from some groups, including the Canadian Biotechnology Action Network, which calls the move "unjustifiable."
Dive Insight:
As a growing number of crops in the U.S. are grown with genetically modified seeds, this change in regulation could be huge for food companies in the U.S. whose foods contain GMO ingredients.
More companies could import more of their products into Canada, which would further open up a nearby foreign market.