Bill C-517: An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (mandatory labelling for genetically modified foods)

C-517 Second Session, Thirty-ninth Parliament, 56-57 Elizabeth II, 2007-2008 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-517 An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (mandatory labelling for genetically modified foods) first reading, February 29, 2008 Mr. Perron 392149 SUMMARY This enactment amends the Food and Drugs Act to make the Minister of Health responsible for establishing that a food or one or more of its components has been genetically modified. If it is established that a food or one or more of its components has been genetically modified, the Minister shall cause the name of the food to be published in the Canada Gazette. The Minister shall also prepare a list of all such foods and cause a copy to be sent at no cost to any one who requests it. No one may sell this food or a food product containing this food in a package unless a label is affixed to the package containing the following notice: This product or one or more of its components has been genetically modified Ce produit ou un ou plusieurs de ses composants ont été génétiquement modifiés In addition, no one may sell this food or a food product containing this food in a package unless a poster in the prescribed form has been placed near the food containing the following notice: Genetically modified Génétiquement modifié Also available on the Parliament of Canada Web Site at the following address:http://www.parl.gc.ca .vis1 {position: absolute;display:block;} .vis2 {position: static;} 2nd Session, 39th Parliament, 56-57 Elizabeth II, 2007-2008 house of commons of canada BILL C-517 An Act to amend the Food and Drugs Act (mandatory labelling for genetically modified foods) R.S., c. F-27 Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows: 1. Section 2 of the Food and Drugs Act is amended by adding, in alphabetical order, the following: “genetically modified”« génétiquement modifié » “genetically modified”, with respect to a food or one of its components, means that the genetic make-up of the food or component has been modified by a technique that combines DNA fragments of the food or component with DNA fragments from another source in a way that could not occur without the use of modern technology. 2. The Act is amended by adding the following after section 7: Genetically Modified Food Duties of Minister 7.1 (1) The Minister is responsible for establishing, on the basis of scientific evidence, that a food or one or more of its components is genetically modified. Publication in the Canada Gazette (2) As soon as the Minister declares that a food or one or more of its components is genetically modified, the Minister shall cause the name of the food to be published in the Canada Gazette. List (3) The Minister shall prepare a list of all foods whose names have been published in the Canada Gazette under subsection (2) and shall cause a copy to be sent at no cost to any person who requests it. Internet (4) The Minister shall cause an electronic version of the list to be posted on a site of the Government of Canada that is generally accessible to the public through the Internet. Access to the Internet (5) The Minister shall ensure that an electronic version of any list posted on the Internet under subsection (4) is accessible at no cost, without a password, and in downloadable form. Sale prohibited 7.2 Beginning on the sixteenth day following publication of the name of a food in the Canada Gazette under subsection 7.1(2), no person shall sell the food or a food product of which the food is a component in a package, unless a label is affixed to the package that contains the following notice: This product or one or more of its components has been genetically modified Ce produit ou un ou plusieurs de ses composants ont été génétiquement modifiés Sale prohibited 7.3 Beginning on the sixteenth day following publication of the name of a food in the Canada Gazette under subsection 7.1(2), no person shall sell the food or a food product of which the food is a component, unless a sign in the prescribed form has been posted near the food that contains the following notice: Genetically modified Génétiquement modifié 3. Subsection 30(1) of the Act is amended by adding the following after paragraph (e): (e.1) respecting the form of the label referred to in section 7.2 and the sign referred to in section 7.3; Published under authority of the Speaker of the House of CommonsAvailable from:Publishing and Depository ServicesPublic Works and Government Services Canada