Reading Time: < 1 minute In Canada, plant varieties with traits that are new to the environment and have the potential to impact human and environmental health are called “novel traits” and are regulated by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. They must be approved by the CFIA as well as Health Canada (in the case of food products) prior to […] Read more
Canadian plant approval process lengthy but worthwhile
Cereal seed royalty gets thumbs down at consultations
Government is asking farmers what they think about seed royalties — and the answer is ‘not much’
Reading Time: 4 minutes The idea of charging royalties on cereal seed didn’t go over well with many Alberta farmers who attended a federal government consultation on proposed royalties. “The overarching thing is that control would be imposed and that would be my concern,” Trochu farmer Kevin Niemi said in an interview. “A royalty is like a seed tax […] Read more
There’s a learning curve with new rules on medication
Now is the time to get up to speed on the ins and outs of the regulations on medicated feed and additives
Reading Time: 3 minutes Changes to Health Canada’s policy on medically important antimicrobials, which came into effect Dec. 1, include those medications administered in water and in feed. This change is in response to antimicrobial resistance and the assurance of a safe food supply. It will also, I feel, be a positive step to further assure accuracy in milled […] Read more
Elk testing at Suffield finds no bovine tuberculosis
Reading Time: < 1 minute Testing of elk at CFB Suffield during the 2017-18 hunting season is complete and all results were negative. After bovine tuberculosis (bTB) was found in one beef cow in southeastern Alberta in 2016, officials with the wildlife branch of Alberta Environment and Parks worked with the Canadian Food Inspection Agency to develop a three-year testing […] Read more
Japan resumes Canadian wheat purchases
Quick response by government and industry credited for quick resumption in sales to major wheat buyer
Reading Time: 2 minutes Japan has resumed purchases of Canadian wheat after testing found no genetically modified wheat in imports following the discovery of a few GM wheat plants in Alberta last summer. The decision “proves that Canada’s science-based regulatory system works,” said the general manager of the Alberta Wheat Commission. “Not only does Canada’s grain-handling system employ some […] Read more
New case of equine infectious anemia
Reading Time: < 1 minute A new case of equine infectious anemia has been detected by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency in Ponoka County, the office of the Chief Provincial Veterinarian reported in early July. One case involving one horse in Clearwater County was confirmed in April and another case, also one horse, in Strathcona County in February. Another case […] Read more
Deadly pest marching towards Alberta’s borders
The emerald ash borer has travelled halfway across the continent and has now reached Manitoba
Reading Time: 3 minutes Another highly destructive invasive pest has breached the boundary of the eastern Prairies and Albertans are being asked to keep watch — and not unwittingly aid its spread. The emerald ash borer, which attacks and kills all species of ash, was found in Winnipeg this winter. The beetle is on a steady invasive march across […] Read more
Unapproved glyphosate-resistant wheat found in Alberta
UPDATED, June 14, 2018, 6:55 p.m. — Genetically modified (GM) wheat — which hasn’t been approved for commercial production in Canada — has been discovered in southern Alberta, the Canadian Food Inspection Agency has confirmed. The wheat of unknown origin contains a genetic modification making it resistant to a common herbicide, CFIA told reporters Thursday. […] Read more
Mandatory equine infectious anemia testing being considered
Reading Time: < 1 minute An equine infectious anemia (EIA) working group is proposing improvements to the current program for controlling the federally reportable disease. One of its key recommendations is that the Canadian Food Inspection Agency implement mandatory EIA testing for certain movements of horses in Western Canada. EIA can be difficult to detect, as loss of co-ordination may […] Read more
Fourth case of equine infectious anemia
Reading Time: < 1 minute Another case of equine infectious anemia, the fourth this year, has been confirmed in Alberta by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. The horse in Clearwater County (west of Red Deer) had not been displaying any symptoms, but was sampled by a vet to comply with an organized club’s requirements. The Office of the Chief Provincial […] Read more
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