Canada and Australia-New Zealand Team Up on GM Food Reviews
Health Canada and Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ) have introduced a new collaborative process to speed up and simplify the approval of genetically modified (GM) foods. This partnership aims to make it easier for food developers to bring safe, innovative products to market in both regions.
How the Shared Assessment Process Works
With the new Shared Assessment Process (SAP), food developers can submit a single application for joint review. One agency leads the scientific assessment, while the other independently reviews the findings before making its own decision. This approach eliminates duplicate work, reducing both approval times and costs.
Faster Approvals, Same High Safety Standards
The SAP has already been piloted on several GM food applications, showing promising results in saving time and providing more consistent assessments. Importantly, each country still maintains its own rigorous safety standards, ensuring consumer protection remains the top priority.
Guidance and Support for Applicants
To help businesses navigate the new process, FSANZ and Health Canada have released joint guidance. This resource covers every step, from preparing submissions to final decisions, and includes clear expectations, timelines, and procedural details.
Building on a Decade of Collaboration
This initiative builds on more than ten years of partnership between Health Canada and FSANZ. The new process reflects both agencies’ commitment to efficient regulation and world-class food safety.
With this joint approach, Canada and Australia-New Zealand are making GM food approvals faster and more consistent—without sacrificing safety.
